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Cassy had not been
doing well since her constant companion, TJ died a few months earlier. She had
become stressed, constantly circling as if looking for him, which added to her
rear legs becoming too weak to support her at times. It was hard to watch those
legs that shot her over my head so many times to get to a source or article or
to whack me as she did her refind, now fail to hold her up. It was clearly time
to let her go join TJ.
She had worked a
very long career, with being lucky to make many finds (some not in her assigned
sector but she never limited herself to the lines us humans drew on a map). She
did everything I ever asked of her and mastered every aspect of sar whether it
was wilderness, rubble, water, live or cadaver. She was so easy to train and so
easy to work and never threw in behaviors – either it was there or it wasn’t,
and if it was there she was sure to tell you. She could always be trusted. She
was always determined, focused at the task at hand and could problem solve like
no other dog I’ve seen. She put her big heart into any task I asked of her. I
don’t know how I trained such a good dog because if you add up both the younger
dogs’ strengths and knowledge, it doesn’t come even close to Cassy’s. She
seemed to be born with great wisdom that led us both. Not only was she talented
in sar, but she was a joy to live with as she thought she was put on this earth
to love everyone. She was always quiet, obedient, patient, and loving to all.
Her only barks were when she made a find. I could take her anywhere and do
anything with her. We worked well as a team, not needing much verbal
communication. She just kne
TJ, short for Thomas Jefferson, was my first dog. He was to just be my
hiking partner, but he soon taught me that dogs' noses are far superior at
searching for lost people and evidence then any human.
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