SINCERE CONDOLENCES

FROM SDA CHATTANOOGA & HIXSON’S CLUB PRESIDENT:

 

My condolences to all who’ve lost a four-legged companion, loved one, and best friend!  They start out so small, and grow to be such a great friend. 

 

Wholeheartedly, Dennis Tate, Club President

 

You are not with me my friend, but you will never be forgotten!! 
 

 

"He/She is my other eyes that can see above the clouds; my other ears that hear above the winds. He is the part of me that can reach out into the sea. He has told me a thousand times over that I am his reason for being; by the way he rests against my leg; by the way he thumps his tail at my smallest smile; by the way he shows his hurt when I leave without taking him (I think it makes him sick with worry when he is not along to care for me.) When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive. When I am angry, he clowns to make me smile. When I am happy, he is joy unbounded. When I am a fool, he ignores it. When I succeed, he brags. Without him, I am only another man. With him, I am all-powerful. He is loyalty itself. He has taught me the meaning of devotion. With him, I know a secret comfort and a private peace. He h as brought me understanding where before I was ignorant. His head on my knee can heal my human hurts. His presence by my side is protection against my fears of dark and unknown things. He has promised to wait for me... whenever... wherever in case I need him. And I expect I will - as I always have. He/She is just my dog."

-          Gene Hill

 

 

Slugo (December 25, 2005 - August 9, 2007)

 SDA Chattanooga chapter lost one of their own this week with the death of Slugo.  He had just recently started competing for his SDA titles.  He was a excellent competitor and a true companion to his owners.  He will be sorely missed.  Special condolences go out to Bryan and Tammy Roden.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

 

 

 

Baron (1996-2008)

I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I HAD TO HAVE "THE LOVE OF MY LIFE" BARON (MY  GERMAN SHEPHERD) PUT TO SLEEP SUNDAY EVENING - HE WAS 12 YRS OLD AND WAS A BIG SHEPHERD AT AROUND 110 POUNDS. HE GOT COMPLETELY DOWN WITH THE MYELOPATHY HE HAD. HE WOULD NOT EAT AND COULD NOT GET UP AT ALL. HE MADE THE DECISION FOR ME BY HIS ACTIONS. HE WAS ALWAYS SO NOBLE AND I KNEW HE WAS GIVING UP. IT HAS BEEN HORRIBLY PAINFUL - AS I KNEW IT WOULD BE. I DO HAVE PEACE IN KNOWING I WILL NEVER FEEL THIS BAD AGAIN BECAUSE I WILL NEVER AGAIN HAVE A BOND/LOVE LIKE I DID WITH BARON - HUMAN EITHER.
 
I WISH YOU GUYS COULD HAVE MET BARON. BARON WAS VERY UNUSUAL IN THAT HE DID ALL HIS OBEDIENCE, BITE WORK, ETC. JUST FROM MY COMMAND ALONE. NO FOOD, BALLS, OR TOYS WERE EVER USED TO TRAIN HIM. HE HAD NO DRIVE EXCEPT TO PLEASE ME. HE WAS KIND AND BRAVE. HE WAS THE ONLY DOG I KNOW OF THAT CHALLENGED THE CANINE GOOD CITIZEN TEST AND PASSED. HE ALSO DID THERAPY WORK AT A NURSING HOME AND WAS A MASCOT FOR THE SHERIFF DEPT. EXPLORER KIDS. HE WAS NOT AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS PEOPLE OR OTHER ANIMALS BUT WAS A "POWER HOUSE" IF I COMMANDED HIM OR THE NEED WAS THERE. HE DID EXCELLENT IN SCHUTZHUND AND WOULD PERFORM ANY SCENARIO THE FIRST TIME LIKE HE HAD DONE IT FOREVER. HE WORKED OFF LEASH ANYTIME!  HE ALSO HAD A SIXTH SENSE THAT WAS NEVER WRONG! HE WILL BE MISSED BY A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO KNEW HIM.

I MUST CONTINUE TO TRAIN MAGNUS REGARDLESS OF MY HEARTBREAK.

PAM AALBERG

 

Jimbo's Mountain Sassifrass

Oct 25, 1998 - Aug 27 2008

It is with a heavy heart and many tears that we let you know Sassi passed on yesterday morning.  Some of you know that she was diagnosed with cancer in April and we were told then, that she would only have 4 weeks.  Yet again she did it her way and lasted almost four months.  I know we may have seemed a bit distant from everyone lately, but we spent a lot of time with her just being a dog and trying to prepare for the inevitable. She worked until the end and had her last water find in May.  Oh, how she loved to work the water. Over the weekend, she started getting real bad and I told her on Tuesday that she had to wait on her Daddy to get back from Wisconsin.  Jimmie got home early Wednesday morning,

told her what a good girl she had been, all the families she brought closure to and  that she could go home.  He asked the Lord to take her when he thought she needed to go. She walked to her crate, laid down in front of it and peacefully passed. She will be cremated in a TSARDA shirt.  Even though we now are in South Carolina,  some of her ashes will be taken back to Chattanooga.  It was where she was born and raised and did most of her work.   By now, she should have met up with Jeff, Jameka, Victoria, maybe even Natalie Holloway and all the other folks that she located or helped search for.  I'm sure she is getting all the love that she needs.  We take comfort in that.  My daddy always called her "boss dog" and for those of you who knew her well, that seemed to fit.   Take Care,  Jimmie and Lisa Canfield

 

 

Turbo (March 12, 2007 - July 24, 2009) 

Tom's beloved Turbo died last night.  Tom and Turbo were at the regular Friday night training and Turbo was feeling and working great.  Tom had worked Turbo in obedience and he was doing great.  He took him back to his crate, gave him some water and put him up.    When Tom returned later to get Turbo for his protection work, he was found dead in his crate.  There had been no signs that Turbo was not feeling well.  Sherle performed an autopsy last night and it has been determined that possibly Turbo had a birth defect, that we were unaware of, and the defect may have caused his spleen to rupture.  His spleen was severely swollen and had a tear in it. 

 

Turbo was a great dog and he was Tom's beloved companion . . . . He will truly be missed.