Yea Sparrow!

Sparrow's OFA rating came back as Good. Her elbows are normal and her thyroid is, too.  Her eyes were CERF'd last week. She has a single hair out of place on her eyelash on each side but she should pass. Her eyes are beautiful!!  If all goes well, she'll have a CHIC number. The only test I may add, since the other girls have had their's done, is cardiac. 

CATCH A FIRE'S PEACE LIKE A RIVER    

Registration:	SR72253301 (AKC)	Sire:	SR54007003
Breed:	VIZSLA	Dam:	SR52417201
Sex:	F	*Titles:
Color:	GOLDEN RUST	CHIC #:
Birthdate:	Apr 9 2012	Addtl. Reg. #
DNA Profile:	V719070

 

OFA Number	Registry	Test/Film  Date	Report Date	Age	Final Conclusion
VZ-13791G30F-VPI	HIPS	Oct 19 2014	Oct 31 2014	30	GOOD
VZ-EL2005F30-VPI	ELBOW	Oct 19 2014	Oct 31 2014	30	NORMAL
VZ-TH978/30F-VPI	THYROID	Oct 19 2014	Nov 5 2014	30	NORMAL

Time For OFA Tests

Sparrow and I made an early morning trip from Hollister to Pleasanton, CA, for her OFA tests. She had her hips and elbows x-rayed and her blood drawn for her OFA Thyroid. She was very unsure of the two men who turned her over but held still with not much effort on my part. She really shined when she had to hold still for the blood draw. Good girl!! They did tell me she is a very nice looking girl!! Of course she is!!! 

While at the showgrounds, we saw several of our California and Nevada friends!! YAY!! Marty Sanford's boy, Mac, handled by Jessica Vetter, took Winner's Dog and Best of Winners for two points. The major in girls was broken by no shows. Mac is out of Brick who is Kirby's brother, although different litters. So, Mac is a cousin to Sparrow. Marty has Finnrok Vizslas in Colorado. 

Now we wait. I should hear back in about three weeks on Sparrow's hip rating from OFA.

I know I can't make you do it; it is a little spendy, but please consider having your OFA tests done.

Take care . . . .

Finally Home

After selling our home in Oregon, the girls and I took off for Arizona. We didn't think we would be there for seven months but that's how long it took for us to find and build a new home in California. 

During our time in Arizona, Marley ended up needing surgery. At the beginning of August, I felt/found a lump near her last nipple. The closer it came to us leaving, the more I became worried about her. A needle aspiration showed it to be a benign or very low grade cancer but the only way to know would be to remove it. With my permission, the vet took clean margins and removed the entire mammary gland. We were both happy she did when the pathology report came back as a simple tubular carcinoma. I was surprised she had cancer but after posting to my Vizsla friend/mentors/breeders learned I really shouldn't be. It is common in older females who are spayed later in life.  In Marley's case, she was spayed in 2012 when she was nine years old. 

Hannah is doing really well. Her senior blood work up came back normal,  perhaps a little low thyroid. She is now on Rimadyl, half a tablet twice a day as preventative for joint stiffness. Her blood work after one month of Rimadyl came back good, too. Hannah celebrated her 13th birthday on September 5th with her best buddy, Sissy Bee, before we left. 

Paloma also visited the vet while we were in Arizona. After Marley's surgery, I noticed a bump on her belly near one of her nipples. A needle aspiration of this one showed a lipoma. I will keep an eye on it though.  She had her first senior panel done, although she isn't really a senior but I wanted to have a baseline.  Her blood work came back all within normal ranges.  I was thrilled. 

Sparrow visited with the vet just because when I took Marley in for her suture removal. 

While in Arizona, the girls became accustomed to the kids feeding them. They would circle the wagons every time food was going to be available. Marley really is food motivated so if you have one of her pups and you see this in your dog, you know where it comes from. 

We arrived in California two weeks ago. The girls have settled in and spend their days laying around the house, in the yard and trying to stay out of our way while we unpack. The other day I found their basket of toys. Sparrow carries a toy around with her and I know she was happy to see her old ones again. 

Sparrow turned two last April so it's time for her to have her OFA hips, elbows and thyroid tests done. We have an appointment at the Del Valle Show next weekend.  Also, everyone who has a Mojo/Paloma puppy - it's time for you to have their hips x-rayed.  Everyone who gets one of my pups signs a contract stating they will to the testing. This helps me determine if my decision to choose Mojo as their sire was a good one. This holds true for the Kirby/Marley puppies. There are a few of you who have not had hips done.  I urge everyone to have an OFA thyroid test done. This has to go through a specific lab. 

We are enjoying the sunshine here in California. We hope everyone is doing well and I hope to update this blog more often now that we are home again.

VCA Nationals in San Jose CA April 2014

This is our advertisement for Nationals. 

This is Sparrow in the ring with her handler, Jenna Iacobellis.  These photos were taken by Karen Lake. The lighting was not good and she did these on the spur of the moment. 

These photos are of Jenna and Sparrow with her 3rd place ribbon in Open Bitches. These photos were taken by Sunshine Photography.

Middle of July in Arizona

We have been in Arizona, staying with our daughter and her family, since the beginning of February when we sold our home in Oregon. The girls are enjoying living with the boys and the six of them get along really well, most of the time. Battle is still a chow hound and Sparrow is not a fan of his always trying to eat her food.  Paloma still rides herd on the younger ones - a mother's job is never done!!

Paloma

 

Marley

 

Hannah and Paloma

 

Hannah and Declan

Marc and I spent our birthday weekend in Bend, Oregon. I was able to fulfill my club obligation while I was in town by attending TEVCO's first summer specialty which was held at the fairgrounds in Redmond. These are photos of the ribbons and prizes. The specialty committee did an outstanding job! Here's to more entries next year and alot more fun!

I was able to see Lillie while I was at the dog show.  She has grown into a very nice girl with a great temperament. Jim takes her everywhere he goes, even to work.  She does spend a day or two during the week playing with other dogs.  I was a great treat for me to see her. 

Lillie with her Daddy, Mojo, at the dog show.  Mojo earned his first BISS at the specialty. I am so happy I was there to see it. Greg and Dennise have worked so hard for this win. 

The other day, Declan was experiencing a Ritz cracker for the first time.  Marley was right there next to him. She loves her kids and is always hoping for a morsel. Who am I kidding?? She is hoping to steal it away from the baby.  She was unsuccessful this day!!

Hannah

It has been really hot here in Arizona. The girls spend most of the time in the house during the day.  At night, when it is cooler, is when they can play outside. 

All the girls are doing well.  I had Hannah to a new vet last week. Everything looks good and her bloodwork and UA were normal.  Marley is due for her rabies so I will most likely be taking her in to the same vet soon. Sparrow is taking time off from the ring until we get to California.  Her last shows were in CA at the Vizsla Club of America's Specialty at the end of April.  Paloma is as sweet as ever and is still the boss of the pups!

This is what the house looked like last week.  Hopefully it will be done by the end of August!!

Happy Easter

We take this time to wish our family a Happy Easter!

I apologize for not posting since Christmas. We have had lots going on.  We lost Marc's Mom just before Christmas and were in Arizona for the holidays.  We sold the house in Oregon in February and are currently living in two different states.  I'm the lucky one because I get to spend time with our grandsons while Marc works in the Bay Area. 

Next week I will travel with Sparrow to the Vizsla Club of America's National Specialty in San Jose, CA.  It will be nice to see my Oregon friends and others from across the country.  The West Coast never draws as big of a entry as the East Coast so there will be some people I will miss.  

All the girls are doing well.  Hannah is 12.5 and still spry although not as much as when she was younger. She still likes to play with all the dogs but does choose which type of play she engages in.  Marley is 10.5 years old and is happy and healthy.  She is still quite the beggar and sometimes even a thief. She is enjoying being here with a toddler who likes to feed her and all the others as well.  Paloma is 5.5 years old, happy and healthy.  I'm sure she would like a cleaner place than dirt to lay in the sunshine but it will have to do for now. Sparrow just turned two years old on the 9th - where has the time gone? 

I was able to see Harley, Kyra and Lily before I left Portland. It was such a treat to see that they are in homes who love them and are giving them everything they need to have a wonderful life.  Bodhi is living in Florida with a host family while his owner, Kyle, is working in Finland. I'm down here with Battle and Patriot so I get to see them everyday. 

Keep in touch with me.  I will be settled in a new home in California by August.  I will be in touch with each and every one of you to update you with our new address then.  In the meantime, my e-mails still work and some of you have my cell phone number.  If you have any questions or troubles, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.   Also, according to our contract, it's time to start getting those hips OFA'd.  If you don't know how to go about having that done, let me know and I'll send you all the information you'll need. 

Sending our love to you - snuggle the pups for us - Audrey and Marc 

Belated Merry Christmas

Wishing our Catch A Fire Family a belated Merry Christmas! Hopefully Santa brought Loki, Patriot, Jasper, Crawford, Paloma, Ziggy, Battle, Bohdi, Lily, Kyra, Sparrow and Harley a few treats and toys!  We are in Arizona celebrating the birth of our newest grandson and playing with Cullen. In a few days, we will be traveling to celebrate a life well lived.  We send our love, lots of snuggles, and thanks for being the best owners we could ask for.