Chase Aussies - Chaucer

Chaucer isn't just special because he was my first champion, or because he is so beautiful and smart. Chaucer is the embodiment of a dream I had with a friend who died way before her time. He is my piece of Amanda, a bitch that I loved, and he is what I have left of my friend Lauri.

When I bought my first Aussie, it was from Lauri, but it was a puppy from her bitch Amanda that I really wanted. Lauri and I made a deal for me to sponsor Amanda, to take her to Westminster, to Nationals and to help pay for her breeding, and in return, I would get first pick puppy from the litter. Lauri chose Bear for the breeding, and I was so excited. We put Amanda on the plane in Florida, right after the USASA Nationals, and I began counting the days. I was at a show in Arkansas, and Lauri was in Florida, on a family vacation, three days before the puppies were born. I got a late night call at my hotel, and I could hardly contain my excitement, because I thought it was the dogsitter calling to tell me the puppies had come early. But, that wasn't the news...Lauri had died on the beach, walking with her family...

Chaucer was born three days later. The memory of it still aches...I like to think that all things in life happen for a reason, but sometimes, it is so hard to understand....I needed a "reason to believe." My Chaucer is eleven now. I can't even think of losing him, but when I do, I'll have to be happy that Lauri will finally get to see our beautiful boy her Amanda made.