In Memory

In Memory....

Benson was our first Springer

He was born in 1984
and died at 14 years of age

Sapphires Tailor Made - "Julie"
4/9/01 - 2/3/16

Today we lost one of our babies, after almost 15 years. She was never a show dog, always our beloved pet. She was such a sweet soul, always kissing everyone all the time, with an adorable look and that little dot on her nose. She accepted whatever we asked of her and was happy to cooperate. Julie used to entertain all the kids that came through my house with her antics. She was a toy killer, finding and destroying any stuffed toys in minutes. I once bought her a really expensive supposedly indestructible toy and it took her 15 minutes on that one, but she got it. She belonged to my son Dan, he was 10 when he got her, and looked for him when he came home. They had this game of chase that they would play for hours - he'd chase her with a toy in her mouth and then she'd chase him with the toy still in her mouth. This was a game that only she would play, none of the other dogs "got it". Dan and Julie grew up with this wonderful relationship, but now Dan is grown and lives elsewhere and Julie has progressively gotten more and more feeble. Her health has been deteriorating for a long time now, but it has been a slow downward slide.

Julie was sired by CH. Serenades Stetson and out of CH. Dejays Sapphire Songbird. Her dam passed at 6 years old from Lymphoma so I was worried about Julie and her siblings, but three of them are still alive today. She gave us one litter of lovely puppies and then was spayed and lived the rest of her days as our "special one". She was whelped by c-section and took her first breath in my husband's hand and he and Dan were with her tonight when she took her last. Our hearts are broken! Please pray that she is well, happy and healthy waiting at the Rainbow Bridge.

Sapphires Poetry in Motion - "Poet"

Ch Twin Oaks Sacred Aria
X
Ch Sapphire Twin Oaks Dancin on Ice

Bred by Laureen & Don Camisi and Tom Faust
Owned by Joanne Caperna Ford, Tom Ford and Laureen Camisi

Rest in Peace Dear Girl

Remembering: BISS CH. Twin Oaks N’ Sapphire Makin’ Waves - “Chessie”

(CH Raylyns Carved From Rock x Twin Oaks Moondancer)
12/9/2001 – 12/1/2014

It is with a very heavy heart that I sit to write this. We had to say goodbye to our very special little lady. I am trying very hard to write down what this girl meant to all of us, but it’s impossible. She was everything!! Chessie was a very small springer, but she was also larger than life and a huge part of the three of our lives, my husband Don, Tom Faust and me. She was responsible for cementing an amazing relationship between Tom Faust and my family. Tom bred her and entrusted her with us and we are forever thankful for the confidence he had in us.

Chessie adopted my husband Don as her “person” from early on, she was his dog and they had a special bond. At home, she was the queen and demanded to be treated as such. She was the only springer I have ever had who could catch a Frisbee out of the air with all four feet off the ground, like a border collie. She had such a zest for life that it was infectious. My husband would describe her as strong willed, competitive, structured; and of course, having the cutest face in the world. She would rather have her teeth pulled out then to let you win in a tug of war. She would bark if you were late in giving her dinner. It might have been annoying, but you knew she was right. She would let you know if you forgot to give her late night big cookie snack; or anything else out of routine, but you always knew she was right. Don says that the thing he remembers most about Chessie was that she had a Regal Presence about her – like she thought that she belonged to some canine royal family. Like she knew that she was something special. And you know what, she was right. We will miss her tremendously.

As a show springer she was a force to be reckoned with. Always showing like “someone left the gate open”, never having a bad show day, always loving every minute of her time in the ring and always moving with purpose and determination. As a bitch who was owner handled, always, she amassed quite a resume. One of her finest moments was winning Best of Breed at the 2009 ESSFTA National Specialty in St. Louis, Missouri, as a veteran. She was shown by Tom Faust. At the National they both had their “finest hour” and Chessie and Tom were “on”. Chessie loved applause and would come alive when there was clapping and hooting, so she was in her element at the National. She loved showing with Tom at the end of her lead. She’d look up at him with that “let’s go” look and wait for him to tell her to “go” and then “go” she would. She had many other notable Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex wins at Specialties and Supported Entries and A Group Placement in her career.
She nurtured and loved two litters of puppies and will live on in them, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren. She also loved Agility but an arthritic shoulder sidelined her agility career, however she never lost her enthusiasm for it and would gladly take a few jumps in the yard.

I want to celebrate her life and remember what she meant to us and try not to feel so overwhelmed by her death. As hard as this is to do, I know she would want us to remember her and smile.

Chessie's Champion Get:
      Ch Twin Oaks N' Sapphires Memphis Queen - "Priscilla"

Chessie's Grand Kids:
     Bronze GCH Sapphire N' Twin Oaks Weep No More - "Willow"
     GCH Sapphire N' Twin Oaks Cabaret - "Eliza"