Both my daughters love animals, especially dogs. Growing up with a mother highly allergic to animal dander, only small hypoallergenic dogs could become a family pet. Fudge, Baxter and Captain were cherished. At some point in her adolescence, daughter Kim began to dream of owning an Australian shepherd.
While living off campus at the University of Portland, Kim worked part time in a veterinary clinic, saving enough money to purchase her first Australian shepherd, Samson. Kim often comments that Samson helped her survive her twenties and the process of adulthood. Sadly, Samson developed prostate cancer, becoming part of a study at UC Davis, before passing away. Enter Benson, an Aussie from Diamond Hill breeders. An adorable pup, it soon became evident that something was not right. Visiting Kim in Sacramento, I observed him, diagnosing ataxia. A few months later, little Benson succumbed to his neurological disorder. The breeders were terribly upset, gifting Kim with another Aussie, Conrad. A few months old, Conrad traveled to South Carolina with Kim, loving its lakes and beaches and beginning to win many ribbons at agility trials. At age 2, Conrad was deemed the third fastest Aussie in the United States.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
