In Memory of

                      Jack

I wish I had the words for Dawn at a time like this.  She has been there for me and our club so many times - good and bad.  And I know many of you have enjoyed her company at one time or another!  As my teammate Mack told me earlier today, Jack picked his time to leave - just after seeing Dawn so happy and so proud of him getting his FDGCH award last weekend.  We remember her saying to Jack, "I love you," when getting her picture taken with him while sitting down during the awards ceremony.  That she did.  Both loyal to each other, so strong a bond.  I think we all had or still have that 1 dog we can say, "That one, was special in my life."
    We were so proud to nominate him for MVP in our region this year and honored to get runner up to such a fine dog as Nancy's Georgia, but I know he was to Dawn and all of us on our little flyball club a most valuable dog.  There are so many memories of Jack since we knew him but a lot we didn't know about Jack before he came here to Texas.
    He has endured more than most dogs do in their lifetimes.  Broken body parts, illnesses, snake bites and other injuries that didn't stop him because together, Dawn and Jack were strong. 
It was always true that Dawn never gave up on him and Jack wouldn't give up on her either especially when it looked as though his flyball career would possibly be over when his leg was severly damaged years ago - and all this before we ever met him.
      His time here seemed short like all of our dog's lives, but I know he was so special to her it seems like it was even shorter for him.  
    We on Texas Twisters are so proud of Dawn and Jack when this past August he finally did it.  I know that some of our dogs on our club will eclipse Jack's point total here in the next year or so, but he will always be the 1st of our dogs to achieve that 30,000 point mark and that makes it all the more special.  I am proud to have ran with Jack on our F4 team especially that last run in August.  Dawn and Jack helped us become a stronger team for it.
    Yes, Jack will be missed by many people who knew him in and out of the flyball ring.  Not more than Dawn and her husband Mike of course - who knew Jack like no others did.   But he will be missed by our club as well as Dawn's 1st flyball club in Alabama.      
    Perhaps not the fastest, but we all know its not just about speed.  It's about getting together with your dog that first time, bonding with him during those trying moments while training him, teaching him right from wrong.  Finally, trusting him as you let him leave your hands and run in his very first tournament and rewarding him on the journey back, embracing him in the moment.   Spending time with him between races in and out of the ring, during break times and times of stress when you need that 1 heat to win it all.  Reliable and loyal to the end.  We'll miss you Jack.
 
We love you Dawn,
 
Texas Twisters Flyball members