Rowmar’s Pennant Race by Cher G. McCoy / Mommy

Rowmar’s Pennant Race, CD, CGC

German Shepherd Dog Club of America

The Thirteen Club

10/14/89 – 10/18/02

In September of 1990, a friend, who is a German Shepherd breeder, came into my store in California and told me she wanted to place an 11-month old sable GSD bitch, named Racy, that she had bought as a brood bitch six months earlier. The reason? The x-rays indicated the dog had Hip Dysplasia. The breeder was under contract for a litter by this dog so it was crucial that she be placed with someone she could trust who would not neuter the dog before she was OFA’d at two and had confirmation on her hips. I was honored that I was selected. I remember the first time I saw her and thought how beautiful she was.

I remember my first bench show at the Cow Palace in San Fran. I had only had Racy for 4 months and we worked very hard to prepare for this show. We didn’t get a leg that day in Novice but she was wonderful that weekend making me very proud to be on that bench. Racy started in conformation but that was pointless if she wasn’t going to produce puppies. I remember walking through the Cow Palace and being able to hold the lead with one finger and thinking….my other two GSDs at this age would still be pulling me to the ground. She had such animation in her front paws that I nicknamed her Puppy Paws.

When I moved to Virginia and had her OFA’d on her 2nd birthday, it was clear she had HD. All were in agreement for me to have her spayed and that she should not have any puppies.

Shortly after Racy’s 2nd birthday she started having problems lunging at some dogs at the shows. We worked on this problem for a long time. Since she was great with people and never had a problem while working (in the ring and class demos), I decided to manage the problem. If I didn’t like everyone I met, why should Racy be forced to.

Racy continued in obedience and earned her CD and CGC but I decided not to continue as I was too concerned with her hips to do the jumping necessary in Open and Utility but also the fact that she really didn’t like it. We did a little Freestyle but what Racy really excelled in was Therapy work and doing Programs in the schools. She was a great demo dog for my obedience classes.

I remember the trip to Illinois to bring back my step-daughter and grandson to Virginia to live with us and how quickly she bonded with my 2 year-old grandson.

I remember when we decided to get Annie, our Pot-Bellied pig, a mate. Racy not only played with the new piglet, Willie, but also laid beside us when Willie took his nap on my lap and at night while Willie slept in his crate, Racy would be there right beside him.

Racy looked a lot like her dad, Ch. Rohan’s Reaction ROM, who died 1/22/96. She was beautiful both inside and out. Although I got her when she was 11 months old, one would never know I was her third owner. She was a loyal, loving friend. My soulmate, my protector, my child. She will be missed by all who knew her, especially Kiki, my 14 year-old Akita cross who, of all my pack, she bonded with the strongest.

Racy taught me many lessons the past 12 years and gave me many beautiful memories. She taught me so much about love and compassion. She did many things for me – not because she necessarily enjoyed them – but because I asked her to. She never questioned me or my pack leader decisions even the wrong ones.

The fondest memory I have was a lesson in her different barks which meant different things. I thought I knew them all but one day she started barking and I thought it was to tell me to get off the computer and give her some attention. I told her to be quiet and when she didn’t I thought it best to see what else she could be trying to tell me. First, I did a head check and all dogs and cats were accounted for. Then, I looked out the window to see if a stranger or another animal was on the property. I didn’t expect to see one because her bark for an intruder was totally different and one I knew well. To my surprise, I see Annie, my pot-bellied pig headed down the driveway. How did Racy know Annie was out of her pen? The windows and doors were closed. I don’t know but I ran to her and hugged and thanked her. Never again did I question her barking.

Racy did enjoy going to the Nursing homes and the programs in the schools. She was wonderful about letting my Lovebird, Jacque, ride on her back which gave new meaning to the term, “Dog and Pony Show”. My favorite picture of Racy is the one of the two of them. You have to look real close to see Jacque with the flowers in the backdrop.

When I got my Rottie puppy, Danca, she showed me again what a wonderful mother she was. She was terrific with her gentle ways of teaching him the ropes as she did with Willie. When I got my BC puppy, Sonny, she was failing more with her hips and so I decided to let Danca raise this little one. Rotties may rule and BCs drool, but in my house, Racy reigned supreme. She was the best Alpha Bitch I could ever hope to have. She made her point without making any contact.

Shortly after her 12th birthday, I entered her in the GSDCA’s Thirteen Club. I prayed she would see her 13th birthday. She did…but only by 4 days!

I knew her time was coming and I prayed for strength to make the right decision at the right time. Racy started having seizures and finding it extremely difficult to lay down. I’m not sure how many seizures she had. I only witnessed two of them. The first one I panicked so that I couldn’t even function. I had to call my sister, an RN, who lives next door to hurry over. I was much calmer with the second one. I did some T-Touch ear slides and that seem to calm me as much as it did her. GSDs are so stoic. How does one make the decision between being uncomfortable and being in pain?

On Friday, October 18th, Racy could not get up from bed. Her front end could no longer support her. Her right front paw had a Parkinson-like tremor and she could not put weight on it. It was time to let her go but I wasn’t ready. I sat with her as the memories of her youth flooded me. I called my vet. No more could be done for her. Racy died peacefully in my arms that afternoon.

Thank you, Dr. Ruby Hertz, for picking ME to share my life and my love with Racy.

…God speed “Puppy Paws”..You will always be in my heart…Love, Mommy

 

All my love,