Articles published in this Newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor. Nothing may be copied unless the Editor grants permission. 

Dates & News:

ZimDog News, can be accessed from: www.vanerp.net.

Condolences:

Zimbabwean caught in the Tsunami.

Clive Baron, from Bulawayo, was tragically caught up in the Tsunami disaster. He was in hospital and I was told he now has passed away. Condolences to his family.

Ch (SA) & Ch Greystones Olympiad, nicknamed Rupert sadly had to be put to sleep at 13 years of age on 11 March 2005

Mardorn Gunstan born on 12-1-1999 [Ch Mardorn Ceasar 'V' and Mardorn Flame] Passed away suddenly on 20 February 2005. He was a great dog, trained by Cindy and Kirsten and won several IPO 3 competitions. The second Rottweiler in Zimbabwe to get this title. Cindy writes: “It was all so sudden - but Vet was here quite quickly. A post mortem confirmed a heart attack. Minutes before that he and my Yaska and I had walked around the garden enjoying a cooler afternoon. His passing has left us so sad and there is a terrible emptiness in our lives.

Burglaries:

These can happen in any country and so make no mistake that this is something relevant to Zimbabwe only.

It is only sad when animals are involved. Virginia Wigham and husband were burglared in the middle of the night, while they were sleeping. Their animals in the bedroom were not affected but 4 others in the house were all poisoned, her two Dobermanns, one Border Collie and one Dachshund.

From a former Doggy Zimbo [Barry Henderson]:

Just a short note to say that we are living in County Durham in the UK in a little town called Chester-le-Street.   Watched Crufts 2005 and was pleased to see the GSD win the Obedience Championship.   Don't have any

dogs anymore and surely miss them.  Love to all from Barry, Meg and Robyn. Ilse I found your website by chance, and have been looking at all the "old Familiar friendly faces". Congratulations to all the winners and may Meg, Robyn and I wish everyone well in the forthcoming show season

Hi yes well what can I say but WOOOOOOW!

Cruft impressions by Ems Wallman

Was again amazed by how many people are around the ring, unfortunately couldn't take a good enough picture just too many people in the way. I never knew how small these rings were until right there. They always seem so large on the TV Did you know that what they are running on is not a carpet but actual fake grass sold at 15 pounds per square meter so we have decided that's what we are putting in our garden very hardy water resistant dog proof grass. What they were doing was rolling up the “lawn” after the show on Sunday and selling it, as a first come first basis, with a 25% discount as it was classed as used. It feels really odd on bare feet but practical to this type of weather here where when it rains you get bog! This was definitely an eye opener to someone like me I have never seen so many dogs or for that fact different types of gundogs.

 

Do you know that there is such an animal called a red and white Irish Setter? I hadn’t until I met it on Saturday, they are very attractive pure white but with red brown patches over them, try and imagine our jack Russell patches, but larger on the Red & White Irish Setter. The ‘normal’ Irish setters were very impressive in one ring I counted over 20 dogs. Then there were stores upon stores everywhere you look. You see this and that for dogs and also other types of pets but as long as it is mainly about dogs. We went to “The Dog Trust” and they had some lovely dogs looking for homes there and very friendly people. Then there were stands with iams, eukanuba, royal canin, proplan you name it it was there in the dog food department. Must say I no longer need to buy my dogs food for the next month as they were giving away 3kg bags of this and that food to try out for free.

At the shutzhund stall got some long link chains there for 2 pounds and those half leather half chokers collars, they cost ten pounds each a little expensive but at least they will last longer providing I don't have another Sapphire on my hands and she doesn't eat leather when she is coming into season by chance and some unknown way of things. We bumped literally into Gladys Little when we were wandering away from the agility ring and there she was on her way to meet someone [I believe Heather Armstrong, Pippa van Reenen, Ursula McKinlay were there too meeting up with Christine Baseotto and Trish Collyer (Editor)]. The queues to get into the agility and obedience rings were unbelievable you stand and wait for hours until someone decides to leave the grand stand. We watched how to teach your dog to dance to music with you, which brings a knot into your throat to watch these people being able to do this. The Police and Army and RAF were there. We were allowed to touch and handle the German Shepherds, which helps to promote the breed.