Third time is a charm - I hope

Three gone in less than 12 months is enough - I hope.

Tory, Uitlander’s Raptor von Tem BH TT CGC CI TDI was given his ticket to the bridge today… and at 4:15 p.m. if you had looked at the sky, you might have seen his spirit lift, running along the rainbow after the rain.

Feb. 2 1996 to 9 Oct. 2008. At 12 years, eight months and seven days, he was my first show dog, my first schutzhund dog, my first male heartdog. He is survived here by his half-brother, Vain and his half-sister’s son, Sully.

He was a ‘I beat the odds’ malignant cancer survivor and a dog that had gold bead therapy from the age of 2 by the originator of the procedure, Dr. Terry Durkes.

Tory was officially bred by Joe Rocco, but purchased from Liz Bauer Crawley. Despite his dysplasia, he was handled to his BH by Steve Beal and went to the USRC Nationals as his helper tryout dog. Tory loved the game, and one of my fondest memories is of the times I watched him take the over 6 foot Beal down to the ground on a hit; he was a large, very powerful dog. He enjoyed showing off. Roland Siebel was very impressed when he demonstrated his obedience skills. But the best was when the very old lady in the wheelchair accidentally ran over his foot during his TDI and he yelped… the world stopped and you could see he was embarrassed as everyone froze to see what he would do. What he did was look to me for a cookie. Which he got. He was a good dog.

They don't live long enough and we couldn’t beat time any longer. Between the HD catching up to him, the Horner's syndrome that raised it’s ugly head and probably other things lurking in the wing it became evident Monday that I needed to make a decision and he let me know today in his own way that was what he needed. When they ask to be released all you can do is do it.

I have to remember that he is pain-free now and I am sure, happily racing with his women: Elba, Happy and Pris. I miss them all.