| March 15, 2001 Connie Gard 5630 E. Edwin Road Tucson, AZ 85739 To Whom It May Concern: I have been involved with animals all of my life. While going to college in NYC I worked with a trainer of Attack and Guard dogs. I did some of the basic obedience on these dogs, while others did the difficult stuff. Most of my “dog feeling” comes from these times. When I was 23 yr. old I apprenticed with a well-known handler, Joan Grogan. Joan was involved with a top Bernese Mt. Dog kennel and I started to learn the ways of showdogs. I was living in Upstate NY and was also involved with boarding horses. If you can understand the movement of horses, you will see your dog’s movement easier. Joan and others helped me to see movement in large and small animals. As time progressed I married, and owned two Hallmark stores. I never lost my love of animals and still showed when time allowed. I helped Joan with her string, and showed for a few clients, but was not able to devote the time needed to actually call myself a “handler”. All that changed when we moved to Tucson in 1988 and I was able to devote my time to my true love. I was able to train and handle on a full time basis. I purchased my first Mastiff “Big-un” 14 years ago. Before that, believe it or not, I had Labs! That one important move in my life changed me forever. I was hooked! Big-un made it to the top ten before I retired him. My love in this breed was a male called SandRiver’s Rio. Rio and I went all the way. When he took the Breed at Westminster in 97 I retired him. He had been in the top five for 3 years and had always given me all I asked of him. In this life you find just a few of those “special” dogs, Rio was one and a Shar-pei named Pixie is another! I was handling Pixie for Beth and Dave Torrossen,and I fell in love with her. We decided to take her to the Big Apple in February and have fun. People also fell in love with her and I found out that she was actually for sale. I was broken hearted as there was no way I could afford to buy her. I contacted some friends, Marlee and Tom Sondgeroth, and we still could not come up with an offer to match what Beth and Dave had already been given. Well, the morning of the big day, Beth and Dave sat me down and told me that there were some things in this world worth more then money, and Pixie was mine! She proceeded to take an Award of Merit at the Garden, and went on from there to be the #1 Shar-Pei bitch in the country before I retired her. No one deserves my thanks more then Beth and Dave for letting me have my Pixie forever! Rio’s and Pixie’s babies will carry on the wonderful tradition they started. All I can hope for is that they give their people what they have given to me. On a short note, I am now a member of the Professional Handlers Association and still love what I do. I have met some of the most wonderful people who share my passion. In all it has not been a bad road, a few bumps, but the dogs have always been there for me. Maybe some day, when I am old and feeble, I will become a judge. WATCH – OUT Connie Gard, PHA |