Star

Wyndrunhr Sparkling Star, CGC TDI HIC

"Star"

October 23, 1997 - January 28, 2011

(MBIS/MBISS Ch Kimani's Blue Chip Image, JC ROM x Ch Wyndrunhr Ashanti Freestyle)

Star was whelped at Wyndrunhr Kennels in Wylie, Texas. She came to live with us on December 18. As we tried out various names for her, my mother suggested "Star" because it was so close to Christmas.

Star was a cute puppy, but she knew what she wanted and had no problem making her wishes known.

Star experienced her first snowfall at 9 weeks old, and she was not impressed.

She wanted our first RR, Jeb, to play with her--constantly, and Jeb usually complied.

Star had Jeb and her humans wrapped around her dainty white paws.

Because of her white feet and her attitude, Star earned her nickname -- "Princess Star Snowboots".

She did indeed seem to think of herself as royalty as evidenced by how relaxed she became on the Biltmore Estate..

Star went through puppy, beginning and intermediate obedience. She earned her CGC (Canine Good Citizen) title and passed the TDI (Therapy Dogs International) test at the 1999 RRCUS Specialty in Winter Park, CO. (She also made the first cut in the "best ridge" contest.)

Jeb had taught Star to be gentle around older people -- and how to get cookies out of my mom -- so perhaps being a therapy dog came naturally to her.

As a therapy dog, Star particularly loved visiting patients in nursing homes, who seemed to love her back. (One gentleman wanted to keep her; he said he'd never seen a dog as big as a horse before.) Star is shown here (along with Chase) visiting my mother. People in the nursing home would always do a doubletake seeing one dog on my mom's bed, but when Chase joined Star on visits, they could hardly believe what they were seeing.