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Dash aka Dasher
Dash aka Ch DM Dots N' Dashes was away from home for too long, living with a family in Amarillo. The youngest son did a good job with him, showing him to many group placements. He helped Dash become the #4 Greyhound in breed competition in 2007.
The boys started their winning streak in Garden City, Kansas in 2007, when judge Lester Mapes awarded them a Group 4. Up until 2008, the boys were on a roll and they were quite the team. Tyler took Dash to two Eukanuba National Championship shows in Long Beach, CA and he also presented him on the green carpet in Madison Square Garden at the Westminster Kennel Club show. It was one heck of a ride for the boys. However, as Tyler branched out into showing other breeds and Dash aged, Dash was supposed to come home. It didn't happen.
"C.C.", Alberta "C.C." Hockett aka Alberta "C.C." Evans, pressed me to give her son sole ownership of Dash. I was not averse to this arrangement and I sent her a contract with three stipulations: 1) He comes home if he cannot be kept, 2) I retain the right to breed my dogs to him, and 3) I am to be consulted prior to any breedings. She promptly broke the agreement refusing me access to Dash to repeat the very successful breeding which produced the Flag Day Litter. At that time, I requested she return the dog and she refused. I filed suit and the judge ruled in my favor, however, rather than giving me Dash, he allowed her son to keep him and awarded me $11,000 + attorney fees + interest at 5% and told her to put me back on the dog's papers as and owner with full rights and privileges. As of this update, she has ignored the court's judgment, which came down in February 2010, and the bill is now in excess of $12,000 and rising.
Several of Dash's littermates were diagnosed over the past year as being in chronic renal failure. I had asked "C.C." several times to take him to the vet for testing and to submit blood to Dr. Gary Johnson at the University of Missouri for genetic testing. The requests were made in the interests of not only my dogs,but the entire breed as there is no history of kidney disease behind these dogs. We do not know from where it came or why it is happening. She refused each request. After the judge's ruling, I sent her a certified letter requesting she take Dash to the vet at my expense for baseline values and for blood to be sent to Dr. Johnson. She never picked up the letter and it was returned to me.
Late on Friday, 27 August 2010, "C.C." sent me the following email telling me that Dash was dying.
> From: CC <paawws@xxxxx.xxx>
> To: jato791@yahoo.com
> Sent: Fri, August 27, 2010 10:04:09 PM
> Subject: dash
> elaine, it is approx 1045pm cst. dash is on the couoch w tyler. he is jaundiced, pale in the mouth and he i s not eating. he is
> lethatrgic and withdrawn, tyler is w him and we are here wi th him. it is only a matter of time im afraid. regardless of anything else
> tyler loves dash as we all do so i am letting yoou know what we are facing. i dont see him making it through the night. if he does it
> will be a big surprise. but beyond that I cant see any way to help. it has happened suddenly in the last two days. ive talked to his vet
> and at this point there is nothing we can really do. im not writing to fight w you. just to let you know what is going on here tongiht.
> tyler wants him to pass at home with family. I lost E-vac a few months ago. every day I was home she hung on. the one day I left
> home to run errands when I got home she was gone. I will not let dash be alone. he is the old man of the house and important family
> member and we love him.
>
> cc
I sent her an email begging her to take Dash to a vet to be humanely euthanized. End stage kidney disease is painful and no animal should have to go through it. It is very ugly. Permitting an animal to suffer to satisfy the desires of a minor child does not teach them how to treat animals humanely. It does not teach them to do right by an animal. And, letting an animal suffer, in pain without veterinary attention, is abusive and irresponsible.
In her final reply, she refused to take Dash to the vet. Her guilty conscious about the kidney disease testing got the best of her, in part, as she replied, "I didnt email to get I told you so or anything else. I shouldve left well enough alone. i just thought I would let you know. i wont bother you again."
If she had not ignored the letter and prior requests, perhaps, this situation could have been averted or, at least, ameliorated. I suspect Dash's demise is due to end stage kidney disease. Thankfully, none of Dash's offspring have shown any signs of illness at 3 years of age
Thank you Dash for the memories. I love you and miss you terribly. I always have. God speed and cross that bridge with wings on your flying feet.
Dash's Show Record
COMMENT: As stated, Dash was not returned to us as originally agreed, forcing us to file a lawsuit for his return. Before entering into any agreement with people, no matter how much you believe them to be friends, sign a contract with clearly defined penalties for breaking the terms of the agreement. Even then, things may not go as planned, but the contracts help. I am very thankful I had the agreement but since it did not state the dog would be returned if it were breeched, it allowed the judge to award them the dog.
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