DOB: 04/09/2003   Colour: Blenheim     Owner: Brendan Bond    Breeder: Mr Ivan Bond

PARENTS GRANDPARENTS GREAT GRANDPARENTS
Cliveden Illustrious
(Blen)
Aust CH Homerbrent Illustrate (Imp UK) (Blen)
Eng CH Homerbrent Illusion (Blen)
Homerbrent Cherelle  (Blen)
Cliveden Minime (Blen)
Cliveden Remington Steel (Blen)
Aust CH McKellen Johanne Zoe (Blen)
Cavalodge Dancing Girl
(Blen)
Cliveden Maverick (Tri)
Choya Stars and Stripes (Imp UK) (Tri)
Cliveden Angel Islington (Blen)
Cliveden Lauren Becall
(Blen)
Cliveden Remington Steel (Blen)
Aust CH McKellen Johanne Zoe (Blen)

 


Our “Gracie” was born 4th Sept 2003, to the youngest of our family, Cavalodge Dancing Girl “Chrissie”.

“Gracie” was the last born from the litter of 5.  My dad worked on her for about an hour, giving her mouth to mouth, drops of brandy etc.  It just didn’t seem like she was going to make it, then all of a sudden we turned the corner & there has being no stopping her since!

In late January 2003, my Mum Ann was gravely ill with terminal cancer.  I told Mum that our girls “Chrissie” and “Anna” were in season and I wasn’t going to worry about mating them as we had more then enough on our plate at the time.

As sick as Mum was, she contacted Brenda Durance “Cliveden” and arranged for Brenda to send up a boy to mate to our two girls.  Mum told me she was glad she had done so as she believed I was going to need something to keep me busy in a few months time.  Mum lost her battle with cancer a fortnight later.  Unfortunately, neither “Chrissie” and “Anna” became pregnant from these matings.  When the girls came in season again they were both mated to Cliveden Illustrious “Joey”. “Chrissie’s” litter was born Sept 4th 2003 and “Anna’s” litter was born 31st October 2003.  These were the first litters since June 2001. The puppies from these two litters have such a special meaning for me as they are the puppies Mum was hoping we would have.  Mum just loved the time when we had our little ones running about and she would be all excited in anticipation as their mums were going into labour.

When it came to naming “Gracie”, I knew Mum would have loved her so I named her in memory of Mum,

 Cavalodge Lady Ann.  As we have an “Anna” I decided on “Gracie” as at Mum’s funeral we played her  favourite hymn “Amazing Grace”.

I had considered naming her Cavalodge Daffodil Day as the day to remember people who have lost the battle with cancer fell on Mum’s birthday, 22nd August.  I’d take the puppies when they were older out to the cemetery to have a run around & visit Mum.  She would have loved them so much.  The times when we had puppies and watching the delight that they brought Mum, hold so many special memories for me.

“Gracie” will be the first cavalier I have shown.  As long as we have “Gracie”, part of Mum will always be with me and hopefully she will be watching over our new addition to the family and keeping a watchful eye on her show career.  I’m sure If Mum was still with us today she would have wanted to return to show-ring with our “Gracie”.  Mum really loved the weekends away that she & Dad had at the dog shows.

Daffodil Day will now play such an important role in my life. It’s a cause I will do my best for, in helping others going through this disease & hope money raised finds a cure.

“Gracie” made her show debut in late Feb 2004, so the Cavalodge Tradition continues…