Catch A Fire's Letter From Home "Battle"

Born on Easter Monday, Turquoise Boy was the largest pup weighing in at 16 ounces, one full pound. His closest litter mate was Purple Girl at 14.75 oz.  At nine weeks, the day the pups got their microchips and first shots, he weighed 14.8 lbs and was a little over 2 pounds heavier than all his littermates except Pink Girl who he outweighed by 3.2 pounds!! 

Turquoise Boy used to follow Cullen back and forth along the x-pen. When it came time to make the decision on which pup went to which home, it was clear, Turquoise Boy wanted to go live in the Turquoise State - Arizona.  Turquoise Boy became Battle and his relationship with Cullen was a close one.  Best of all, Uncle Patriot didn't seem to mind him and the two of them became friends.  

Battle learned early on that food rained from the sky in the form of Cullen throwing it off his highchair. 

And that fun floated in the air!

And, that is was always fun to reunite with your pack, your family! 

Battle loved being around the kids and Josh and took his role as their protector quite seriously. So much so, he would chase after anyone who was chasing his kids, always in play!

He was a big help when Declan was learning how to stand up!

Anything the kids were doing, he wanted to do, too! Although he would probably draw the line at actually getting into the tub - he was just there to drink the water!

He loved his Uncle David. He loved some of Bree's friends who came to the house. I wish I had a photo of everyone he tried to climb into their skin with!! Battle's heart was huge and there was plenty of him to go around to anyone wanting to be loved on!

He could be goofy!

Battle was a member of Bree and Josh's family for 5 Christmases. He missed his sixth one by three days.  Enjoy these Christmas Past memories. 

 2012

 2013

 2014

 2015

 2016

 2017

A few random photos

We found out Battle was sick on Monday, December 18th, after an ultrasound which was performed by Dr Eichelberger, a radiologist at Veterinary Specialist Center of Tucson. In the following days, Bree and I met with two more veterinarians - Battle's primary vet, Dr Humphrey at Animal Care Center in Green Valley and Dr Dennis at Monument East Veterinary Clinic in Tucson.  They agreed with VSCOT's ER Vet, Dr Joshi and Dr Boozer, who gave us the ultrasound results, that Battle had more than one splenic mass and that nodules on the liver in a dog his age was not common and most likely meant the cancer had spread. Not wanting Battle to experience the pain of rupturing masses and recovering from bleeds and/or surgery which would have been major, Bree made the decision to have Battle euthanized. The family agreed with and supported her decision to let him go while his quality of life was still good. 

Battle

April 9. 2012 ~ December 22. 2017

Always in our hearts ~ Never forgotten

On December 27, five days after Battle went ahead to romp in the green fields on the other side of The Bridge, this Sparrow Hawk came for a visit. We didn't see it again before we left. Bree made a comment that she thought Battle had come to check on us. Perhaps he did - we will not know until the day we meet again in the sky. But, for now, it's a nice thought.  

Don't let anyone tell you how long is appropriate to grieve the loss of a loved one, yes, even a pet. Everyone chooses the length and manner and it's different for us all.  Be kind and supportive but above all, love them through it.  My hope for you is that you never experience this kind of cancer. It is called a great mystery - they don't know its cause and there is no real cure. 

Holidays in Arizona

Marc, the girls and I arrived in Arizona just a little bit before Thanksgiving. We hadn't thought about coming out so soon before Christmas but as you have it, there were dog shows to attend. Those dog shows ended up not having majors but I opted to have Sparrow shown on one of the days in Chandler under a Judge I thought might like her but who didn't get to see her in her best light the last time she was entered under him. She came away with reserve. 

Thanksgiving was quiet with just Bree, the boys, Marc and I but we had a good time together. I don't remember when we started spending Thanksgivings in AZ but it's been a couple of years. I know I've entered Sparrow in dog shows the past three years so it's at least that long!!

Christmas is supposed to be a good time of year but in the last couple of years, it's been a time of health crises for the dogs. Marley started us off on December 23, 2014, with having her eye removed because of iris melanoma. I'm thinking 2015 was okay but if I go back maybe I'll find that isn't the case. In November 2016 we found out Marley had lymphoma and were doing chemo in December. This year we were hoping everything would go as planned but were given Splenic Hemangiosarcoma with Battle.  I'll write a separate post for him once I get home. 

I hope the New Year is a much better and kinder year for all of us.  So, lifting my imaginary glass to all of you, here's to good health and fun times with all our dogs.  

Happy Birthday Sweetest Day Pups!

Happy 9th Birthday to Kirby and Marley's pups who were born on the Sweetest Day in 2008. Their birthday was on October 18th.

Ziggy

 Jasper

 Crawford 

 Paloma 

Patriot

Only one missing is Loki. Hope to have a photo of him soon. 

Fall is Here!

Fall has arrived along the Central Coast of California. We have crisp mornings, sunny days and chilly nights; although Sparrow and I did escape the heat to the Nevada desert last weekend, October 14th and 15th, for a dog show. We stayed with my nephew and his family and had a great time! Sparrow was second in her class under Judge Suzanne Dillin on Saturday with Robert Scott handling as Moira had a ring conflict. She went Reserve Winner's Bitch on Sunday under Judge Kenneth E. Berg with Moira handling. We weren't able to finish her Championship but I was happy with the way she showed and the way she handled the last minute changes.

Sparrow showed in Vallejo September 16th and 17th.  She was third in her class under Judge Gloria Kerr on Saturday but did not place under Judge Cecilia Ringstrom on Sunday.  We repeatedly do not do well at those shows year after year.  Perhaps it's time to skip them next time around. 

Our next shows will be in Arizona next month. 

Since my last posting, Hannah turned 16 and Paloma turned 9. 

CH Sunstead's Catch A Fire JH * October 7, 2003 to April 30, 2017

Well, I cannot believe I did not make a post here on the blog about losing Marley.  So, I will put here what I posted on Facebook.  However, after three months, I still miss her.  I did finally get to really mourn her early last week after all our family had gone home. I suppose I had just been so busy, traveling to Nationals and then to Arizona; having family here and then traveling north for "the" wedding that I just hadn't really mourned her. Even though I cried a million tears at Nationals, amazingly enough there were still more, lots more. Even more than all the ones I cried when I picked up her ashes and paw print. She really was my good friend and constant companion. She was never too far from wherever I was in the house, or in the yard. And, let me go into the front yard and she'd have a fit until I came back in. I was her pack and we were very attached to one another. Funny how that worked out - it just was. 

My beautiful, sweet, sometimes neurotic girl transitioned peacefully  tonight at 7:10pm encircled by the love Marc and I had for her.  Always vigilant, she lived for me; she was MY girl. We had two very  good weeks where life was hopeful until Thursday afternoon when  I was reminded that a cure for her was not meant to be. Cancer has  its own timeline and by this afternoon it had made its decision.  Marley - CH Sunstead's Catch A Fire JH, was out of  Lena - CH Opus One Lena of Dunantul and  Siskel - CH Gold Run's Two Thumbs Up CD RN JH AX MXJ VC.  She was Best of Sweepstakes at the VCNC Specialty 2004,  Winner in American Bred VCA Nationals Bakersfield 2005 and  BOB over Specials at Chintimini KC in April 2006. She finished her  CH in eight shows handled by Christy Marley. She earned her JH in  four attempts and made us proud by scoring some 10's. In 2008,  she was bred to Kirby - CH Pirok Kirbi MH and produced  GCH CH Catch A Fire's Autumn Prairie Wind JH, Catch A Fire's  Sweet Autumn Patriot JH, Catch A Fire's Autumn Blaze JH,  CH Catch A Fire's Loki Haust, Catch A Fire's Red Sun Rising,  and Catch Fire's Escape Beneath A Harvest Moon. She is granddam  to Paloma's six pups whom she loved and cared for before they went  to their new homes.  It goes without saying that she will be terribly missed by all of us.  Fly like the  wind,  MaMoo - Dad and I will see you on the other side.  We were so very blessed to have you for 13 years 6 months and  23 days.  She is: Never Forgotten - Always in Our Hearts Thank you to those who would have cheered her on in the Parade of  Titleholders.  I so wished she could have made it. I wanted her to see  her breeder one last time.  It just wasn't meant to be.

Summer

How is your summer going?  We had a few weeks after arriving home from Arizona before David, Brianna, our grandsons and the boys arrived to surprise Marc for Father's Day. What a special treat that was for him!!  While David had to go back home for work, Bree and family were here for almost five weeks. 

This is Battle enjoying the splashes of the boys while playing in the pool.

Sparrow enjoying what she loves - watching for butterflies and birds. Totally not caring, at the moment, that there's lots of fun happening in the pool right behind her. She did jump in a few times but I think she surprised herself as she quickly jumped right back out, each time! 

I don't often get a whole body shot of Battle so enjoy! He's a big boy, weighing in around 70 pounds. 

Brother and sister, Patriot and Paloma. Patriot is still being treated for Valley Fever and because it's in a bone, may never be off his medication. Watch your dogs and if you've been in an area which is Central (and deserts) CA, western WA or AZ almost anywhere, make sure you have them checked for it. I think if we had caught Patriot's earlier it might not have gone to the bone. 

Sparrow, tongue out.

Battle taking a rest on a warm summer day. Wait, who is he foolin'? The air conditioner was on and it was nice in the house, almost chilly!

I am almost sure Patriot thinks I'm stealing something from him when I take his photo. That's why he won't look at me for very long. He always diverts his gaze. 

Pretty Paloma - until she puts her foot into her mouth!!

Sleepy Sparrow trying to catch up on all the sleep she missed while being boarded at Paul and Kirsten's in Sweet Home, OR. All the dogs, except Hannah, were boarded from Friday - Monday while we attended our son's wedding in Portland.

It's almost the end of summer, technically not until September, but the kids in the neighborhood have started returning from their adventures and Cullen is no different. They left for home on the 22nd, just in time to start a new routine in preparation for the start of school. Hard to believe he is entering Kindergarten in a few days but every puppy needs to go to school. As much as I believe he would love to stay home, he has so much to learn. Good luck to the puppy in the middle!! Always be on your best behavior when out in public!! 

VCA Nationals 2017

The day after we lost Marley, the girls and I hit the road to San Diego for the Vizsla Club of America's National event in Del Mar, CA. We only participate in conformation but they also held rally, obedience and agility events. On Tuesday, Sparrow and Paloma had their teeth cleaned and without sedation. I was so surprised the girls were able to lay still and let the dentist clean their teeth. They suffered no ill effects from having to be still. Their pearly whites were so pretty!! On Wednesday, I attended a talk by Dr Jaime Modiano of the University of Minnesota. The VCA gives money, along with the Golden Retriever and Boxer Parent Clubs, to study Hemangiosarcoma. He informed us of a promising treatment which comes with a high cost. In the end, he wasn't able to give us any guidelines for prevention. Of course, I'm watching the other dogs show each day, too. Thursday morning Sparrow danced her way, with handler Moira Hanley-Cornell, to a First Place in American Bred. Marley won that same class at Nationals in Bakersfield in 2005. She went back in for Winners Bitch but wasn't able to garner the points. Darn!! We'll be working on her last major a little while longer.  

Thursday evening was the Parade of Titleholders. Each of the girls had their turn around the ring, even Marley. 

Friday was Best of Breed and then it was over. Brianna and I enjoyed a last lunch with Karen Walker, Jessica Vetter and Marty Sanford. And, before we left, Sarah Hayes and Karen Bravender joined us. We had the best time at this year's National event. 

In the morning, we headed to Arizona!