Wally - our wonderful best friend who is still attached to my hip due to the understanding and graciousness of Jacki Scarborough.

We sent Wally out west as a puppy to be co-owned with Jacki, where she did a great job showing him and completing his AKC championhip.  She specialed him in 1999 and was nationally ranked with him.  The 2000 TSCA National Specialty was in Fort Worth, Texas and she agreed to bring him along so I could see him be shown.  I had only flown down to Texas with two young puppies and was looking foward to seeing Jacki and Wally compete.  However, Jacki became quite ill the day of the National and I ended up having to show Wally - a great little dog who had not seen me in 2 1/2 years until we met up again in Texas.  I must give all the credit to Wally for being the show dog he was - he gave a command performance and at the end of the day ended up going Best of Breed at the National - an incredible honor for all of us!

Wally is pictured above from left with Judge Richard T'ang, myself, Jacki Scarborough and trophy presenter Susan Lingle.  After a long discussion, Jacki allowed Wally to fly home with me to be campaigned for the remainder of 2000 - and what a year it was!  Wally ended up as the #1 Tibetan Spaniel all systems, with a Group 1, many group placements and breed wins - always handled in top East Coast Competition by me.  During the year, Wally and I developed a bond that I did not want to break and due to Jacki, I did not have to.  Wally has remained here with me, though good and bad, and is still going strong.  It is so very hard to believe that he will be 12 on April 1, 2009.

In March of 2001, however, tragedy struck.  Wally blew out a disk in his back and underwent emergency surgery at Colonial Veterinary Hospital in Ithaca, New York.   I can never say enough good things about the surgeons and staff there - Wally made an great recovery and, although never able to be shown again due to a slight hop in the rear, he has enjoyed life fully ever since.  

He has made a few guest appearances - at the 2002 National Specialty in Ohio to receive his award for 2001, a few dog shows here and there and at the 2007 FLTSA Specialty weekend just to say hello.  Who knows when he will convince me to take him along again.