Tales of Lincolnwood - Lincolnwood Training Club
Transcription
Tales of Lincolnwood - Lincolnwood Training Club
Tales of Lincolnwood News from Lincolnwood Training Club, Inc., for German Shepherd Dogs Summer, 2016 Inside: Anne Riba at Westminster...page 3 Another K-9 Vested……..…….page 5 The Nose Knows............….…page 7 Running With Dogs.....page 8 Rescue From Qatar......page 10 GSDCA Application......page 11 ............................ tales of lincolnwood ...is a quarterly newsletter published for members and friends of Lincolnwood Training Club, Inc., for German Shepherd Dogs, Glenview, IL (847) 299-7273. Tales is the official publication of Lincolnwood Training Club. It is sent to all Club members and on an exchange basis with regional German Shepherd clubs. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the writers and are not necessarily that of the Club’s. PRESIDENT Dean Leonard VICE PRESIDENT Alan Cash RECORDING SECRETARY Jessica Nellis CORRESPONDING SECRETARY Kathy Pairitz TREASURER Bobby Stevens HISTORIAN Wendy Israel Bill Schlichtman Richard Lane Kathy Pairitz Pat Speyer Editor: Cathy Stein Bobby Stevens Karan Volltrauer Judy Braginsky 5323 Davis St. Skokie, IL 60077 (847) 966-6398 Amosmom07@yahoo.com COVER ART: “Time Out!” by professional artist and lifetime Lincolnwood Training Club member Georgia Cawley, Long Grove, IL. Used with permission. Georgia also designed the logo for the German Shepherd Dog Club of America. 2. Time Class Place/Instructor Sunday Lincolnwood Training Club (Started 6/19/2016) Central & Dearlove Rds. Glenview, IL 9:00 a.m. Distractions Dave Perry 9:00 a.m. AKC Open/Utility Dick Lane 9:00 a.m. AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Anne Feuerstein (6/19/16 - 8/07/16) 8 weeks, pre-enrollment required 9:30 a.m. Rally - All Levels Greg Hayward 10:00 a.m. AKC Beginner Novice Sandy Tristano 10:00 a.m. AKC Novice Cathy Stein 10:00 a.m. Advanced Puppy/Beginner Anne Feuerstein _______________________________________________________________ Tuesday FIELD SUPERINTENDENT TRUSTEES: Lincolnwood Training Club, Inc., for German Shepherd Dogs 2016 Summer Outdoor Training Class Schedule Lincolnwood Training Club (Started 6/21/2016) Central & Dearlove Rds. Glenview, IL 6:30 p.m. AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Cathy Stein (6/21/16 - 8/09/16) 8 weeks, pre-enrollment required 6:30 p.m. Ring-ready Foundation for AKC Beginner Novice/Rally Novice Sandy Tristano & Wendy Israel 7:30 p.m. K-9 Nose Work (all levels) Lisa Wageman (6/21/16 - 8/09/16) 8 weeks, pre-enrollment required _______________________________________________________________ Wednesday Lincolnwood Training Club (Started 6/22/2016) 6:30 p.m. Advanced Puppy 6:30 p.m. Beginner Adult Dogs 7:00 p.m. AKC Novice 7:00 p.m. AKC Open/Utility 7:30 p.m. AKC Advanced Canine Good Citizen (7/20/16 - 9/07/16) 8 weeks, pre-enrollment required Central & Dearlove Rds. Glenview, IL Cathy Stein & Nancy Lane Tim Schaefer Steve Stembridge Dick Lane Cathy Stein To earn a CGCA title, your dog must have a CGC test on record and an AKC PAL or AKC Partners number. All breeds as well as mixed breeds are welcome to attend our classes. All handlers must bring a copy of a current vet record to the first class. If classes are cancelled, you will be contacted and there will be a message on the Club phone: 847/299-7273. Questions? Please call Director of Training Cathy Stein at 847-217-0527. ............................................................ Anne Riba to Judge at Westminster by Judy Braginsky You would think an invite to judge at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in Madison Square Garden would be the “cherry on top” of her four decades of teaching, training, competing, and judging in the dog sport world of agility. Nope. For lifetime Lincolnwood Training Club member Anne Riba, the sport’s high point for her was when her Belgian Malinois --- the late, great Temi --- grabbed 2nd place at the 2008 AKC National Agility Championship in Tulsa, OK, missing first place to a Border Collie by three-tenths of a second. “The crowd just yelled,” Anne says. “Agility is a sport where the Border Collie is undisputed king. You didn’t see a lot of Malinois in competition.” Still, the recent invitation to help judge at the 4th annual 2017 Masters Agility Championship at Westminster next February in New York came as a surprise to Anne. She, and Paul Moore of the United Kingdom, were selected from more than 400 AKC agility judges to each judge 330 agility dogs from all over the United States. The event, featuring dogs attacking an obstacle course of jumps, tunnels, weave poles, and more in timed competition, will take place on the Saturday before the Westminster Show. Anne lives in Old Mill Creek, IL, with Belgian Malinois CH M’Rip des Barriques, AX, AXJ, XF; Aleka di Prisconte, MXB, MJS, OF; IMPACTS Gavial, AX, AXJ; and IMPACTS Incognito (Sly,) NA; and Top Guns Shock Therapy (Taser), MX, MXJ, her Border Collie. Anne’s dogs have qualified repeatedly for the AKC National Championships and AKC Invitationals. This year, 2016, was Aleka’s first trip to the Nationals at the age of 4 where she made the finals round and finished 11 out of 380 of the top agility dogs in the country. Temi, CD, MXC, MJC, MXF, TQX, had also earned 6th place at the 2010 AKC Nationals and 3rd place at the Nationals in 2011. Temi was the top Belgian Malinois at the AKC Agility Invitational for 3 years in a row in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Temi passed on last year, Rip and Taser are retired, so now it’s time for Aleka, Gavi, and Sly to take over. The following is part of a recent interview with Anne at home on 5 acres with her dogs, training hall, and 8 beehives. Q. Why agility? A. “I joined Lincolnwood Training Club in the 1990s after returning to Illinois from Southern California. I graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and spent the next 12 years in Southern California teaching dogs and solving behavior problems. “Agility was a new sport at the time and just more fun than obedience. Over 8 years, as Director of Training for Agility at Lincolnwood, I had worked with Kris, Tony, and Anthony Montagano to expand the seasonal outdoor program into multi-level classes with more than 100 students. (Anne put one of her first agility titles during this time on her German Shepherd, Von Bruin’s Total Eclipse (Clipper), CDX, MX, AXJ, BH). I also established an agility program at King’s Kennels in Deerfield, IL, where I started Apex Agility, which has become even more popular with over 170 students of every size and age. “Agility is a true test of your skills and communication with your dog. Dogs love agility. It’s exciting.” Q. Why Malinois? You have four of a breed that is a challenge to handle because of their exuberance and high drive. A. “I prefer this breed because they have the athleticism and speed to do well in the sport, though not many people have the patience and skill to handle a Mal. They are very smart and commonly referred to as Border Collies with teeth.” Q. Why are there so many agility titles? I counted about 18 titles, starting with the Novice Agility (NA), (which Anne’s dog, Sly, has earned at 6 months), to the Master Agility Champion (MACH). A. “Agility is a ‘game;’ and the different title classes offer people more ‘games’ to play. For example, the ‘fast’ classes are a distance game; the ‘time to beat’ a speed game; the ‘standard’ classes, of which Novice Agility is typical, has contact equipment, from an A-frame to the teeter, for the dog to navigate; while ‘jumpers’ classes are just jumps and weaves and no contact. “The ‘preferred’ classes are for older or younger dogs, where you don’t want them to have to jump at full height. They jump 4 inches lower. “The amazing thing is that every time you step into the ring with your dog, it’s a brand-new course. You have 8 minutes to walk the course and develop your strategy on how best to get your dog around the course in the fastest time.” Q. Time to slow down and enjoy life, dogs, and grandkids? A. “Well, we’re still crazy busy. I judge AKC agility trials every couple months and also just became an agility judge for UK Agility International (UKI), another venue. “And, if you can call it stepping back, I teach about 11 classes a month now. “It was up to 19 classes, on top of my full-time job.” Anne Riba and Aleka 3. ............................................................ Club News .... Welcome New Members Lincolnwood Training Club welcomes its newest Club members and their dogs, who were recently voted into membership. They include: Gregorios Gountanis of Norridge, IL, and his GSD, Max, born 10/05/15, sire: Apache Nunez, dam: Gigi Nunez, breeder: Manual Nunez and M.J. Nunez. Violett Skowron of Northbrook, IL, and her bitch, Lakota, born 9/06/15. And, Shirley Perrott of Glenview, IL and her bitch, Sami, born 4/10/15, sire: Smokey Bones Samson, dam: Sahara Sunny Sapphire, breeder: Shane Myers/Sands Kennel. Legs Up! Ruth Black’s/Neda Tkalcevic’s Odin, 1st Place, Veterans Class, Midwest Regional Trial/ Conformation Breed Survey, April 23, 2016, Bur Oak Hundesport, SV Judge Bernd Weber. Ruth Black’s/Neda Tkalcevic’s Odin, 1st Place, Veterans Class, United Schutzhund Clubs of America Sieger Show, May 1, 2016, Indianapolis, IN, SV Judge Helmut Konig. Ruth Black’s/Neda Tkalcevic’s Liesl, BH (Begleithunde), and AD (Ausdauerprufung) (a 12-mile endurance test), passed both, Deutsche Schaferhunde Club, Woodburn, KY, March 26, 2016, SV Judge Bogdan Sergo. Theresa Lim and Nikita, BH (Begleithunde), passed, O.G. Bierstadt Schutzhund Club Trial, May 21, 2016, Judge Frank Phillips Joe Lim and Gandalf, BH (Begleithunde), passed, O.G. Bierstadt Schutzhund Club Trial, May 21, 2016, Judge Frank Phillips. Wendy Israel and Cassidy, Barn Hunt Master, Leg #4, Passed, Happy Feet K-9 Agility Barn Hunt Trial, June 5, 2016, Judge John Henely. Karen Johnson and Jon, Open A, Leg #2, 4th Place, Car-Dun-Al Obedience Trial, April 23, 2016, Judge Robert Self. Karen Johnson and Jon, Open A, Leg #3, 5th Place, Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) title, Rand Park Obedience Trial, May 1, 2016, Judge Ronnie Bizer. 4. Birthday Barks Katie Duke Moonshine Loki Otis Chance Jon Frankie Pillu Shelby Dakota 4/03/2005 4/04/2015 4/07/2015 4/08/2014 4/08/2015 4/11/2015 4/14/2012 4/19/2013 4/19/2014 4/19/2015 4/23/2014 Daniel Meyers Vladimir Zak Laura Dominguez Scott/Jessica Nellis Todd Kaiser Ken/Kim Kupczyk Karen Johnson Patricia Speyer Larry/Martha Mikrut Julie O’Brien Christine/Collin Baldonieri Oscar Harry Axel Maddie Hank Max Lazarus Kara Kaiser Troy Rosie 5/01/2007 5/03/2012 5/07/2011 5/08/2008 5/14/2012 5/15/2009 5/19/2010 5/19/2004 5/28/2015 5/31/2001 5/31/2004 David Fairman Lana Berger Leslie Manzara Michael/Laurie Kinney James Giacometti David/Mary Ann Ortlepp Kenneth Porrello Michael/Laurie Kinney Tony Chiovari Bob Lehmann Mary Merlin Kylie Honcho Heidi Lou Gypsy Zolte Payton Lexi Spike Molly Britta Jack Amos Klaus 6/04/2012 6/07/2007 6/08/2013 6/09/2010 6/11/2014 6/16/2011 6/19/2014 6/19/2014 6/20/2000 6/21/2008 6/27/2008 6/28/2008 6/29/2007 6/29/2014 Kathy Poreda Mary/Daniel Breaux Robin Thybony Stu Unger Mary Merlin Shirley Stegner Robert Bahmann Dawn Jensen Peter/Debbie O’Malley Don Wilkinson Pat Behles Matt/Mike Tristano Judy Braginsky Alexander Quezada (We apologize if any of this information is incorrect. Please contact Club Historial Wendy Israel to update information about your dog.) KNOW YOUR FIELD RULES... TRAINING AREA: When entering or exiting the training area, make sure you close and latch the gate. Walk between the benches and the fence, or behind the bushes, so you do not interfere with training or other activities. ............................................................ Lincolnwood Training Club Buys 4th Protective Vest for a Working K-9 by Judy Braginsky A young K-9 learning to be a drug detection dog has received a costly bullet- and stab-protective vest, thanks to the generosity of Lincolnwood Training Club members. The $1,050 tab was raised largely from raffle proceeds collected at the Club’s annual Awards Dinner held in March and was donated to Vested Interest in K-9s (www.vik9s.org). The non-profit organization keeps a list of working police dogs from all over the country that need such a protective vest. Many police departments and federal agencies that use K-9s lack the funds necessary to outfit their dogs with such equipment. The protective vests are constructed of tough Kevlar fabric that covers vital organs and helps to minimize blunt trauma injuries on the job. These types of injuries have caused some 60% of police dog deaths. The protective vests are cut from the same bullet- and stab-resistant cloth that vests their human partners. Vested Interest in K-9s selected K-9 Chiko of the North Smithfield Police Department in Rhode Island to receive the life-saving body armor from Lincolnwood’s donation. K-9 Chiko is a 2-year-old Belgian Malinois that was imported from Czechoslovakia. The dog became a member of the police department in March of 2016 after graduating from the Rhode Island K-9 Academy. He is certified in patrol and is currently in narcotics school. K-9 Chiko is assigned to Officer Jay Rainville of the North Smithfield Rhode Island Police K-9 Unit. This is the fourth such protective vest specially tailored to police dogs that Lincolnwood Training Club has purchased since 2005. Earlier beneficiaries of the vests purchased from Club donations have included K-9 Lexus of the Phoenix, IL Police Department; K-9 Honza of the Cook County Sheriff’s Department/ Cook County Jail; and K-9 Orkan of the Glendale Heights, IL Police Department. “We are grateful for your kindness and generous donation to Vested Interest in K-9s,” said Nicole Lewis, the organization’s communications coordinator. “Our mission is to provide such vests and other assistance to law enforcement K-9s through fundraising efforts. “Since our inception in 2009, we have provided more than 1,500 protective vests to our nation’s K-9s. “It is due to your support that we can continue to do so. “Your recent gift has made a difference by helping us provide for the safety of a dedicated police dog.” K-9 Chiko 5. ............................................................ Club News Cont.... Judy Braginsky and Amos, Schutzhund IPO1 title, Bur Oak Hundesport Midwest Regional Trial, April 22, 2016, Judge Bogdan Sergo (Slovenia). Christine Filler and Jenks, Beginner Novice B, Leg #3, 1st Place, Beginner Novice (BN) title, Greater Sierra Vista Kennel Club Coyote Classic, Nov. 16, 2015, Judge Roger Ayres. Christine Filler and Jenks, AKC Canine Good Citizen (CGC) title, passed, April 11, 2015. We Want Your Legs Decoy Mike Karlov (from left), Judy Braginsky, Amos, Judge Bogdan Sergo Wendy Israel and Cassidy, Barn Hunt Master, Leg #3, passed, 2nd Place, Happy Feet K-9 Agility Barn Hunt Trial, April 23, 2016, Judge Susan Chapman. Pat Behles and Britta, Trick Dog Champion (TDCH) title, Do More With Your Dog, April 29, 2016, Judges Do More With Your Dog staff. Bobby Stevens and Ely, Tracking Dog (TD) title, passed, Weimaraner Club of Northern Illinois Tracking Dog Test, May 1, 2016, Judges Carla Ogert and Pam German. Christine Filler and Jenks, Rally Novice B, Leg #4, 1st Place, Greater Sierra Vista Kennel Club Coyote Classic, Nov. 16, 2015, Judge Nancy Simmons. Christine Filler and Jenks, Beginner Novice B, Leg #1, 1st Place, Tucson Kennel Club Classic, Nov. 14, 2015, Judge Nancy Simmons. Christine Filler and Jenks, Beginner Novice B, Leg #2, 1st Place, Greater Sierra Vista Kennel Club Coyote Classic, Nov. 15, 2015, Judge Roger Ayres. 6. Club members are reminded to fill out a “leg” report every time you and your dog earn a leg, a title, a certification, or any other type of achievement. Also, if you get a new dog, please fill out a new dog registration form and get it to Historian Wendy Israel. Copies of these forms are kept in the clubhouse and are also available on Lincolnwood Training Club’s website.(www.ltcgsd.org). Poop Patrol Lincolnwood Training Club is looking for an individual to empty the white buckets located on the field for dog waste. The volunteer will be compensated with a free yearly single membership. Questions? Please call Cathy Stein at 847-217-0527. Save These Dates! Volunteers are needed to help staff a range of certification and titling events sponsored by Lincolnwood Training Club in a couple of months. Mark your calenders for a combined obedience and rally trial to be held Sept. 18, 2016 at the Club, with Judges Bob Burgin and Loretta Lazzara. A German Shepherd Dog Club of America Temperament Test will be held Sept. 25, 2016, at the Club, with Evaluator Jim York. In addition, combined Tracking Dog/ Tracking Dog Excellent Tests will be held Oct. 30, 2016 at Burnidge Forest Preserve in Elgin, IL, with Judges Eileen Glennon and Walter O’Brien. Master Gardener Thanks to the gardening efforts of Sandy Tristano, Lincolnwood Training Club’s clubhouse grounds are looking very chic and inviting these days. Sandy planted annuals like geraniums and wave petunias in the two barrels fronting the clubhouse entrance, removed dead dirt from the sides of the clubhouse, and added new fertile soil, and also put in some Shasta daisies and tickseed flowering plants on the west side. And don’t forget the golden euonymous shrub Sandy also planted on the clubhouse’s front east side. All Dogs Go to Heaven Lincolnwood Training Club extends its condolences to the following Club members on the loss of their beloved companions, now over the Rainbow Bridge. Ely Van Den Heuvel, CD, TD, RE, CGC, TDI, TC, HIC “Ely” 1/17/2009 -- 6/13/2016 Bobby and Cathy Stevens Pleasant Hill’s Que Sera Sera “Sarah” 5/16/2007 – 4/25/2016 Diane Payton KNOW YOUR FIELD RULES... DOGS: Dogs must be kept on leash at all times, except during an “off leash” exercise as directed by a class instructor. At no time are any dogs allowed to run the field without supervision. Dogs that are aggressive toward other dogs or people must be muzzled when on the Club premises. If you know your dog to be aggressive, or are not sure, discuss this with your instructor or the director of training before the start of class. ............................................................ The Nose Knows Karen Johnson/Jon (from left); Kevin Swanquist/Lexie; James Callahan/ Saoirse, Lisa Wegman, Vladimir Zak/Duke, and Pat Speyer/Frankie by Judy Braginsky Lincolnwood Training Club dogs Jon, Frankie, Lexie, Saoirse, and Duke all were graduated with honors recently, doing what a German Shepherd does best: Using his nose. The test at the end of the 8-week K-9 Nose Work class, led by instructor Lisa Wageman, was to find and alert to a small container of birch tree oil that was hidden at different locations in the clubhouse. It was the first time that the handlers were not told where the scent container was located and had to let the dogs search for it on their own. One by one, Karen Johnson’s Jon, Pat Speyer’s Frankie, Kevin Swanquist’s Lexie, James Callahan’s Saoirse, and Vladimir’s Duke entered the room to singly search its perimeter for the scent item. Hiding places included behind the water cooler, under a chair placed beneath a fan to swirl the scent, and at a stack of agility cones. The result? Amazing stuff to watch. Every dog correctly indicated the prize. Their noses “knew,” each doggie nose having about up to 220 million cells devoted to smelling, compared with a human’s about 5 million smelling cells. Wageman says K-9 Nose Work classes have been around for about four years, inspired by working detection dogs. The easy-to-learn activity and sport builds confidence and focus in many dogs and provides a safe way to keep dogs fit and healthy through mental and physical exercise. According to the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW), there are now titles, ribbons, and awards to be had in K-9 Nose Work, a fun search and scenting activity that uses basic search dog skills for virtually all dogs and people. The NACSW even uses law enforcement and private sector K-9 detection professionals to judge many of the K-9 Nose Work trials. At least two Lincolnwood Training Club members and dogs, Marie Goulden and Reye and Colleen Breslin and Heidi, have earned K-9 Nose Work 1 titles. Another Club member and dog, Pat Behles and Britta, have successfully completed an Odor Recognition Test (ORT) to gain eligibility to compete in NACSW sanctioned trials. Learn more about the sport of K-9 Nose Work by visiting nacsw.net. Even better, consider one of the K-9 Nose Work classes set up by our Director of Training Cathy Stein at Lincolnwood. Vladimir Zak’s dog, Duke (top left photo, clockwise), finds the scented article, as does Kevin Swanquist’s Lexie, Pat Speyer’s Frankie, and James Callahan’s Saoirse, while Karen Johnson’s Jon begins his search and also finds it. (Photos by Judy Braginsky) 7. ............................................................ Do’s and Dont’s for Running With Dogs by Jessica Nellis If you’re searching for a running partner, consider a buddy with four legs. Ghost and I have been running together for about 2 years and she'll be turning 5 this December. She's a fairly active dog and I wanted to get in shape. We traded in walks for runs. Most of our runs are short training runs (anywhere from 2 to 5 miles). Ghost has helped me train for two half marathons (which are 13.1 miles) -- the Rock n' Roll Half Marathon in July, 2015, and the Naperville Half Marathon in November, 2015. Unfortunately, dogs were not allowed on either course. I’m thinking about doing Chicago PAWS Run for their Lives on July 24 with her as this 5K walk is dog friendly. The website, BringFido.com, is great for showing you dog-friendly events. We don’t have any big runs on the docket for this summer, except a few 5Ks (3.1 miles), although I would very much like to run the Chicago Marathon in the future! (Jessica, Lincolnwood Training Club’s Recording Secretary, offered these tips for safely running with your dog): MAKE SURE YOUR DOG is at least 1 year old before running with them. A dog’s joints are still developing, and you don’t want to cause developmental issues. My other running buddy, Loki, was a little over 1 year old when I started running with him. When I started taking the dogs on runs, I checked with my vet. Some dogs can’t handle more than a few miles, especially big guys like Loki. He doesn’t go beyond 3 miles! Ghost was really tired and slept good after her first 10-mile run! START SLOW! Ghosty and I used the Couch to 5K® Running Plan. See 8. the website:www.CoolRunning.com. It is a walk-run program to build up your endurance for longer runs. KEEP YOUR DOG on his leash, no matter how well-trained he is. There are too many distractions for your dog to stay focused on the run. Ghost and I like running with a handsfree leash. Essentially, it’s a belt with a leash attached to it. You can buy the one I like at Amazon.com: Mighty Paw. It gives both Ghost and I a little more Jessica Nellis with Ghost (left) and Loki freedom. She’s a bit faster than me! BRING ENOUGH WATER for two. Find places on the trail with water and/or use a hydration belt, a belt with two water bottles attached to it. STICK TO TRAILS when possible. Trails are shaded and softer than pavement and will be easiser on your dog’s joints. If the pavement/ground is too hot for the back of your hand, it is too hot for the pads of your dog’s paws! COOL DOWN after your run. Of all the creatures that walk the face of this earth, dogs have chosen us, and us, alone, to share their lives with. May we prove worthy of such a gift. Judy Braginsky’s Amos vom Sturm und Drang, IPO1, TD, TR1, BH, CGC, HIC, TC (First in a series of Club Dogs.) ............................................................ 9. ............................................................ Rescuing Bella by Judy Braginsky Meet Bella, a 2-year-old German Shepherd who traded an uncertain life in the sweltering, 106-degree deserts of Qatar for a safe haven in suburbia USA with Lincolnwood Training Club member Christine Hickman. Thanks to a group of expat Americans and Europeans, Bella is one of many dogs being rescued and taken in by Rescue Qatar (PAWS) volunteers in the Arab country who are reaching out to rescue organizations in the U.S. in hopes of relocating the animals to a better life. Qatar is a temporary country for many expat families. When they finish their jobs there and move out of the country, they commonly leave their dogs behind. And very few expats will adopt or foster the dogs due to a lack of space. As it struggles to handle an influx of abandoned animals during the summert, PAWS says it now faces an additional challenge of serving as a drop-off point for animals rescued by security forces. “The sheikh whose land we shelter our animals on was kind enough to allow us to use the premises for free,” says PAWS co-founder Alison Caldwell. “Aside from that, we pay for everything. Each month we spend about $5,500 on food alone. “He has a kind heart, so ministry officials who know him think that it’s alright to bring in animals that they’ve found or rescued here. In a recent week, our shelter took in over 50 dogs, most odropped off by policemen. “We are completely at capacity, with more than 200 dogs, where we once had 140. “These are animals that don’t belong in this country, or this heat. For example, we have over 20 Huskies, Alaska sled dogs, with us. We also have a number of German Shepherds who need homes. “They all live at our farm in a dark kennel. They are safe and well-fed but we are desperate to relocate them to the U.S. 10. “Here in Qatar, the conditions for dogs are horrible. “The very hot climate, combined with a general negative attitude towards dogs and very little green space, leaves dogs like the German Shepherds very bored and down. Lincolnwood Club member Mrs. Hickman was looking at local pet rescue organizations on Facebook after her Riley, one of two family German Shepherds, passed away. “Murphy, our other Shepherd, missed Riley a lot,” she says. “I saw that one rescue group, Magnificent Mutts, was looking to rehome a German Shepherd they had taken in from Qatar.” Bella in snow and (top photo) water The Hickman family adopted the feisty dog last December. Named Bella, the German Shepherd was promptly enrolled in obedience classes with Cathy Stein and Anne Feuerstein at Lincolnwood Training Club. “She’s come a long way,” Mrs. Hickman says. Indeed. Lifetime Lincolnwood Training Club member Marianne Perlman, who started German Shepherd Rescue Inc. in 1996, also answered PAWS’ call for help. She, too, agreed to take and re-home a German Shepherd through PAWS, a dog that was found wandering the desert. Called India, the dog also made the 7,100-mile flight from Qatar to Chicago, to land at her forever home with a family on the North Shore. ............................................................ GSDCA Supports Rescue The German Shepherd Dog Club of America (GSDCA) has long supported breed rescue efforts through a link with the American German Shepherd Rescue Assn. (AGSRA). The AGSRA was developed as a fund-raising organization to operate programs that protect the breed and help GSDs who need to find new homes. Donations to AGSRA have helped fund local German Shepherd rescue organizations. The group (www.agrsa.com) also provides an online directory of German Shepherd rescue organizations by state. In Illinois, a rescue group called German Shepherd Rescue Inc. was founded by lifetime Lincolnwood Training Club member Marianne Perlman. Marianne is also AGSRA’s rescue contact for the Midwest. Additionally, AGSRA maintains a listing of rescue organizations that specialize in white German Shepherds and organizations that can help military personnel temporarily re-home their dog while deployed. Each year, the GSDCA honors the rescue effort at its National Show. Below is pictured a German Shepherd named Herrscher, adopted by Tammy Benda in Illinois through German Shepherd Rescue Inc. Herrscher was honored with a plaque for his adopter and represented AGSRA and German Shepherd Rescue Inc. at the GSDCA Nationals in 2014. Herrscher as a young, emaciated dog was rescued along with more than 200 other dogs from a sad life in downstate Illinois. He weighed about 50 pounds at the time and was so weak that he could barely stand. Today he accompanies Ms. Benda to work and in 2012 took first place in her company’s Halloween costume contest dressed as a sheep. His photo was featured in the 2015 AGSRA calendar for the month of August. President of AGSRA is Linda Kury (lindakury@att.net). --- Judy MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION German Shepherd Dog Club of America, Inc. Application for Membership Requirements: Minimum age of 18 years. Must be in good standing with AKC. Membership includes subscription to The German Shepherd Dog Review. Must be sponsored by two members in good standing of the GSDCA. Membership Type: (check one) ___ Single $36.00 ___ Family*$66.00 Outside the United States add $24. *Family is defined as same household or significant other. Dues are not tax deductible. Make checks payable to GSDCA. NAME(S) __________________________________________ ADDRESS __________________________________________ CITY ______________________________________________ PHONE(S) _________________________________________ FAX ______________________________________________ EMAIL ____________________________________________ I (We) hereby make application to the above Club and agree, if accepted for membership, to abide by all AKC and GSDCA rules and policies. Upon application I will be eligible for all privileges except the right to vote. Thirty days after my name has been published in the Review, provided no objections have been filed, I will be granted the right to vote. SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT _____________________________________________ SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT _____________________________________________ PRINTED NAME & SIGNATURE OF SPONSOR* ______________________________ PRINTED NAME & SIGNATURE OF SPONSOR* ______________________________ Mail to: Dania Karloff 2136 Mt. Pleasant Road Chesapeake, VA 23322 GSDCAMembers@aol.com *Per GSDCA policy, if no sponsors are available, membership applications may be signed by the GSDCA President and the Membership Chair. GSDCA National Show Chairman Gail Stiefferman (left); Herrscher and Tammy Benda, and AGSRA President Linda Kury 11. Tribute to a Therapy Dog by Cheryl Goede I’m in the hospital. I must try and get well. The reasons why are varied; we each have stories to tell. Some days are bad, some days are good. The wish to “get well” is understood. My body grown weak, I’ve felt so tired. But you walked in, and new dreams inspired. I was losing hope and at the end of my rope; But your friendship saved, new hurdles easily braved. I walked corridors with you, laughing with glee To have you with me was all I would need. You cuddled me close, kissed my hands and my face. Your love is priceless. Could never be replaced. And if for some reason I could not stay, It wasn’t your fault. Don’t think that way. I’ll tell all the angels when heaven I see, How happy you made me. Your love carried me. (Source: www.tailsinc.com) Cathy Stein’s Danny Boy and Morgen (above) are back from another therapy dog visit to a local nursing home. Both dogs are registered with Therapy Dogs International, a non-profit organization. TDI requires the most comprehensive training/ testing program in the U.S. Both dog and handler are taught to navigate a myriad of situations. (www.tdi-dog.org) P.O. Box 48067 Niles, IL 60714