doberdogsfd
11-23-2008, 11:30 AM
Sometimes we see only the nasty, darker side of our Dog Show Community. The one that is only about "What I want is all that matters" , that the dogs are commodities, that winning is the single most important issue at hand (in the ring or in the behind the scenes silliness), I could go on, but I think everyone on the Forum gets where I am going. So I will get to the point.
Our phone rang lastnight at about 8pm, the dogs were settled in for a snooze, the "Hulk" had just started running on In Demand and we were just happy to be back from shopping at the Outlets in Limrick:)....I hate to shop!!
It was a good friend who is several hours away from us, she spoke with Bob and from the sound of the conversation on our end, it wasn't good. I could read the "Oh crap!" look on my husband's face as he began to get up and tell our friend we would change and go.....not to worry, and to keep positive thoughts.
Our friend's dobie girl had pulled out of someone's hand and galloped off across the street to chase a deer through a farm field. My heart wrenches to think about it now as it did then. The thought of this girlie running with her flexi chasing her and it being about 30 degrees and flurrying....about ALL the possibilites. About...how I would feel if it was Emma or Vaako. About being hours away and not being able to be there to go find them.
We went to were the dog had been staying while the Philly shows are going this weekend. Spoke to the handler and a few other folks that had come back to help find the dog. Knowing that when we called our friend to touch base and remind her to make sure someone called the local PD and report the dog missing, her heart had to have stopped, hoping to hear good news, but it was only one of us calling to state the obvious and much needed things in situations like this.
So, in the dark of the night the Dog Show Community came together in a small corner PA. We put aside the issues we had or have with each other,the wins and losses of the weekend and past, the stupid stuff that makes our Dog Show Community the dark and nasty thing it can be, to find the cold and shivering dog, that all of us knew could be ours and would want this very thing to happen for us.
It brings warmth to the heart that we were all out there. Some came later in the night and kept the search up. Retracing the steps and tire tracks of others just to make sure we didn't miss anything, hoping girlie was ok and would bark to us when we called her name.
Bob and I returned home around 1am. Sad and tired, we wanted to find her so badly. I watch my guys outside with their jackets on for a quick romp before going to bed. I was thinking the whole time about the cold baby out there and hoping the phone would ring in the night to let us know the 2nd shift had found her. It was not a good night and sleep was broken by horrible thougths.
The phone rang early this AM. It was our friend and I could tell by her relieved and happy sounding voice, dobie girl had been found! One of the many folks who had joined the search made a last pass in the very area she was last seen running towards. He pushed a tad further, calling, calling and there was a bark in the silent night. Cold and stuck to the ground was our mission. From what I can tell she was pretty annoyed she couldn't get away from the offending soybean stalk!
So, a very happy ending.....in more then one way. Often this type of story doesn't end well and it had the best of all endings!
The other part of it, it can be done folks...we can be human to each other...we can put the greater good infront of our own agenda and needs.....we can remember what is important and actually do it. We can put friendship first, regardless of disagreements.
After all, isn't this what being part of a Community is all about? The comradery and friendship, the ability to call someone in the night and ask for help and know it will be there for you.
It is what it is all about.
~ Strength and Honor~
Cheryl
Our phone rang lastnight at about 8pm, the dogs were settled in for a snooze, the "Hulk" had just started running on In Demand and we were just happy to be back from shopping at the Outlets in Limrick:)....I hate to shop!!
It was a good friend who is several hours away from us, she spoke with Bob and from the sound of the conversation on our end, it wasn't good. I could read the "Oh crap!" look on my husband's face as he began to get up and tell our friend we would change and go.....not to worry, and to keep positive thoughts.
Our friend's dobie girl had pulled out of someone's hand and galloped off across the street to chase a deer through a farm field. My heart wrenches to think about it now as it did then. The thought of this girlie running with her flexi chasing her and it being about 30 degrees and flurrying....about ALL the possibilites. About...how I would feel if it was Emma or Vaako. About being hours away and not being able to be there to go find them.
We went to were the dog had been staying while the Philly shows are going this weekend. Spoke to the handler and a few other folks that had come back to help find the dog. Knowing that when we called our friend to touch base and remind her to make sure someone called the local PD and report the dog missing, her heart had to have stopped, hoping to hear good news, but it was only one of us calling to state the obvious and much needed things in situations like this.
So, in the dark of the night the Dog Show Community came together in a small corner PA. We put aside the issues we had or have with each other,the wins and losses of the weekend and past, the stupid stuff that makes our Dog Show Community the dark and nasty thing it can be, to find the cold and shivering dog, that all of us knew could be ours and would want this very thing to happen for us.
It brings warmth to the heart that we were all out there. Some came later in the night and kept the search up. Retracing the steps and tire tracks of others just to make sure we didn't miss anything, hoping girlie was ok and would bark to us when we called her name.
Bob and I returned home around 1am. Sad and tired, we wanted to find her so badly. I watch my guys outside with their jackets on for a quick romp before going to bed. I was thinking the whole time about the cold baby out there and hoping the phone would ring in the night to let us know the 2nd shift had found her. It was not a good night and sleep was broken by horrible thougths.
The phone rang early this AM. It was our friend and I could tell by her relieved and happy sounding voice, dobie girl had been found! One of the many folks who had joined the search made a last pass in the very area she was last seen running towards. He pushed a tad further, calling, calling and there was a bark in the silent night. Cold and stuck to the ground was our mission. From what I can tell she was pretty annoyed she couldn't get away from the offending soybean stalk!
So, a very happy ending.....in more then one way. Often this type of story doesn't end well and it had the best of all endings!
The other part of it, it can be done folks...we can be human to each other...we can put the greater good infront of our own agenda and needs.....we can remember what is important and actually do it. We can put friendship first, regardless of disagreements.
After all, isn't this what being part of a Community is all about? The comradery and friendship, the ability to call someone in the night and ask for help and know it will be there for you.
It is what it is all about.
~ Strength and Honor~
Cheryl