Henna can't understand why all of the toys haven't been hidden away. 
But she's having fun anyway. Jake is too manly to look sad, but he is worried 
about his mom and dad who are crying all of the time. Denia has looked 
all over the house, under the motor home, throughout the yard, 
even at practice last night. She is definitely upset. 
Everyone understands that something is not right. 

Hope is gone.

When we look back over our life with Hope, 
there are so many wonderful things to remember. 
In Agility class on Monday night, Hope was awesome. More confidence, 
the best jumping and the right attitude. You know, the one that says, 
"Hey Dad, I can do this!". Even better was the look in her eyes 
as we heeled off the floor, off-lead, that said "Thanks Dad!".

In Houston in August 1994 at the first AKC Agility event, 
Hope only had a quick course in Agility but with her willingness, 
we decided to give her a try anyway. She had a perfect run going 
until she came to the collapsed tunnel. On her way through, 
she rubbed her topknot along the top of the tunnel, because it tickled 
I guess, and when she came to the fabric part, fell over on her side in the tunnel. 
She tumbled out of the tunnel to the laughter of the audience 
and was still doing a "Queen-wave" over the last jump and dropped the bar. 
NQ for us, but Hope had a ball!

In 1995, we put together an all-Beardie Agility Team in Canada. 
One of the events was the 3 dog Team relay competition. 
Imagine, 3 Beardies in the ring at the same time. Chaos? 
The crowd gathered waiting for the spectacle to begin. 
Hope and I turned to them and said, "Prepare to be Amazed!". 
They laughed and waited and waited and waited... 
The Beardie team came 3rd out of 12 that day! They WERE amazed.

Hope's only litter produced two Canadian Championships. 
She was a Canadian Champion at less than a year of age, 
with a number of Puppy Groups wins. In 1996 she travelled to Indiana, 
Washington, Florida, and Ohio, having unmeasurable success in the ring, 
and garnering fans wherever she went. The newspaper headlines for Clinton's 
"Hope is back in America" couldn't be missed, and were included in a BCCC ad. 
Hope was a stunner and a Champion in every sense of the word! 

Her impression of Sheep? Mohair. The closest she wanted to get to livestock 
was rolling on the leather couch!!

But her greatest love was Flyball. If you think that dog's can't tell time, 
explain to me how they know Thursday nights? Patient, willing and ready 
to do whatever the team wanted she loved her racing! 
Our team appointed her as honorary captain two years ago because of her wise outlook. 
No panic, get in and do what it takes to win.

Can CH Pandamonium Hoplesly Devoted NA FbDCh died in our arms 
racing to the vet on Wednesday morning. It was race she couldn't win.

Our brainy, brown beardie will be profoundly missed. 

Emily & Glenn

Venham Bearded Collies
Barrie, ON Canada
venham@barint.on.ca

Thank you to all of Hope's friends who have responded privately to our loss. 

Emily Venator & Glenn Hamilton 
Fri Feb 21 1997

[Back to Bridge]

---

Hope's stats have moved to the Canadian non-Member page