A/C Ch.
ESSpecial Madison Avenue
"Mason"
(Ch.
ESSpecial Once In A Blu Moon X Ch. Tiffany's Elegant Image)
BW,
7/23/1995-3/15/2007, OFA good, CERF normal at 11 years
Bred by: Monica Bowers & Robin Novack
Owners: Monica Bowers & Robin Novack
Photo By Ruth Dehmel
It
is a breeder's fondest wish for our dogs to age well. To have a dog
look his finest at age eleven is almost unimaginable, yet Mason has done
it. His hearing is long gone, but he has adapted with his other
senses. Not much gets by him these days. Just before the National he
developed some tenderness in his face. An emergency dental showed some
bad rear molars that must have been causing discomfort for some time,
yet he really showed no symptoms. Upon arriving at the National, we
learned he was entered in the wrong class, a younger class. He was
moved to the 11+ class and won in the Veteran Sweepstakes and Regular
class. He hit the end of the leash like a three year old and never let
down.
Our deepest thanks to friend and fan, Dana Lodge who bred to Mason and
has loved and admired him for years. I knew he needed to earn the win
in spite of Dana's affection for him. I'm so very proud of the way he
looked and showed. Another priceless memory from one of my life's
greatest loves. Just when you think you cannot love them more...
On March 15, 2007, we learned Mason had a
liver tumor. He had one bad day. The decision was made to let him go
before he got sick, before he suffered. Unbelievable. So was
Mason. He was the most cheerful, funny, carefree, sweet dog I have ever
known. He was also incredibly beautiful. He changed my life and that
of many others. For that, I am most grateful. I cannot imagine a day
without him, yet I cannot believe I was lucky enough to share eleven
years with him.
Photo By Ruth Dehmel
Mason's Best In Veteran Sweepstakes ESSFTA
National 2006
In 1995, Robin announced she
wanted to breed her beautiful Valerie to our Madison. It resulted in the
most beautiful litter of springer puppies I have ever seen, even now. We
kept three who went on to finish entirely at specialties and have touched
our hearts and influenced our breeding program forever.
baby Opal, Mason, Mallory, Bailey and Cybil
Mason finished just like Madison, exclusively at specialties. He was Best
of Opposite Sex in Sweepstakes at the '96 National. He spent two months in
Canada with Steve Dainard and came home undefeated in breed competition and
Canada's Number One English springer, earning a Best in Show along the way.
In the US, always breeder handled by Robin or Monica, he earned many group
placements and five Specialty Best in Show wins. Although he was campaigned
on a very limited basis, he remained in the Top Ten for breed competition
and earned Awards of Merit at Westminster and the National as a Veteran in
2005. Mason is tightly linebred on a combination which successfully
produced springers of outstanding virtue and breed type, who are healthy and
mentally sound. We feel he is a living tribute to that heritage as the
epitome of ideal springer personality and temperament.
Mason was bred to many of this
country's most beautiful bitches and thirty-eight champions resulted. His
career as a producer was tragically ended when he became sterile around age
5. It is hard to believe the impact he made in only a few years as he sired
gorgeous get who were wildly successful at the Nationals and specialties.
He is the sire of Parent club top producers: Ch. ESSpecial Affair to
Remember, Ch. ESSpecial Park Avenue as well as Ch. Springbrook Tagalong My
Own Magic. Other sires of merit include his sons Ch. ESSpecial Hollywood
BLVD and Ch. Amilyn ESSpecial Backstreet Boy.
Mason with Ch. Springbrook's Tagalong My Own
Magic & Ch. ESSpecial Moonlite Rendezvous
Mason won at some of the most
prestigious specialties, but his career as a veteran was especially fun. He
won many Veteran Sweepstakes along with our favorite: Best in Veteran
Sweepstakes at the ESSFTA National. The following year, he captured an
Award of Merit at the National from the 9-11 year old class.
In addition to his show career
we are especially proud of Mason's children who won at National
specialties: Ch. Lordillea Stonihill Foto-Jnic (WB), Ch. Springbrook
Tagalong My Own Magic (WD) and Ch. ESSpecial Moonlite Rendezvous (BOS-sweeps
and RWB).
Mason continues to age
beautifully with bright clear ears, not a hint of gray, and no signs of
slowing down at age eleven. He is a most priceless family member as well as
a beautiful ambassador for our breed.
Who knew that night in 1995 when the litter that produced Mason, Mallory and
Opal was planned that it would change our lives forever. I have
always believed when you follow your heart and your head it will often take
you where you want to be. It certainly did this time.
Mason at Age Eleven
Mason at ESSCM September 2006
Monica Bowers
DeWitt, MI
ESSpecial@aol.com
This page was last updated on
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
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