~About Us ~

I always had some type of pet while growing up ... dogs, cats, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, fish, a monkey, even played with the odd snake or two whenever mom or dad would tip over the burning barrel in the spring.

In 1977, I joined the Military. So with boot camp and a trades course to get through, there was no time or place for pets. Eventually I was posted to CFB Comox and was able to get a mouse named "Buddy". It was a little hard trying to hide him on inspection day but fortunately no one complained. In time "Buddy" passed away and I was petless once again. When Chico and I first met in 1981, we lived on the base at CFB Comox. We later moved to town but unfortunately the apartment complex wouldn't allow dogs. The only pets that were permitted were cats (which there were enough of them around already), fish (to hard to take with us if we got posted), birds (I like them but at other peoples houses), small rodents (which I had enough of when I was younger), or plants (I don't do justice to them either).

Chico and I married in 1984 and we were both posted to Gander, Newfoundland (good thing we didn't have fish). The hunt was then on to find out what type of animal Chico would be happy with. We were in Gander for about a year when Chico came home saying that he might have a chance to rescue an unregistered Irish Setter. The people were going to put her down if they couldn't find a good home for her. Of course, right away I said "Call them, we'll take her". The people brought "Charlie" over and said she was not going to be a big dog. I took one look at her and the size of her paws, asked how old she was (5 months), and knew instantly that not only was she going to be much bigger than they thought, but also that she would be staying with us forever. "Charlie" was renamed "Lady" and became a permanent part of our lives.

When Chico retired from the military in 1987, we moved back to the Comox Valley with "Lady". Believe me a 12 hr flight with a plane switch in Montreal (very nervous parents) was not "Lady's" idea of fun. Chico was interested in looking for another Irish but he wanted a registered male this time. Naturally, I had no problem with that. Irish Setters are like peanuts, you can never have just one. So the search was on. My mom somehow obtained the telephone number for Charles and Sharon Francis of O'Irish fame. When we contacted the Francis' there was some confusion as they were not actually selling a puppy but rather a brood bitch and she had already been sold. However, the Francis' very kindly gave us the name of the woman who bought her for breeding and that is how "Gent" (aka Setr Ridge's Country Gent) entered our lives in 1988.

I could go on and on about how each of our Irish Setters came into our lives or how they left their mark on our lives. Our house in 1999 held "Celsi" (Colnbrook Erins Rhuzara CD,CGC), "Rebel" (Can/Am Ch Kulana Qismet's Rhuzara CD,TDX, Am TD,CGC), and "Shania" (Palarset Cherished Memories TD) and watched the untimely passing of Chico. In the end and when all is said and done, I am glad that Chico had the chance to spend time with these cherished souls.

The year 2001 has proved to be a year of change for the dogs and myself. There is a new love in our lives by the name of John and his little housemate Taz (a Maltese). The move to Fort Saskatchewan started out a little nerve-wracking with leaving good friends behind in BC, and making new ones in a new place, but I think we are all settled in now and ready for the future. It's going to take time for John to realize that a stud dog and/or puppies are not THAT much trouble as we start to build up the Rhuzara name with quality Irish Setters that can do it all whether show, hunt, obedience, or companion.

- Caroline Grundy, Rhuzara Irish Setters