SEVEN SHOW DOGS DEAD

This morning we heard about a tragic incident. Seven dogs are dead of heat stroke after being left in a handler’s van over night. Among the confirmed dead is the country’s number one Akita bitch, CH Mystik’s Jersey Had-Ta-Go-To Gekko.

CH Mystik’s Jersey Had-Ta-Go-To Gekko
with Handler Mary Wild

The dogs were in the custody of professional handler Mary Wild of Arnold MO. Wild had just returned home at about 1:00 Monday morning from the Iowa City IA shows. According to a Saint Louis news site STL Today, Wild made the decision to leave the eight dogs in the van over night. STL Today reports that the dogs were the Akita, Jersey, three Golden Retrievers, an Alaskan Malamute, a Siberian Husky, and a Dalmatian. According to Onofrio Dog Shows, Wild had the Golden Retrievers, Laurell’s AKA, CH Nalyn’s Private Stash, CH Annecy’s Good Girls Go To Heaven, the Alaskan Malamute, CH Sno Ridge’s Sudden Impact, and the Siberian Husky, Topaz Hot Wyred, entered at the Hawkeye Kennel Club shows. However, we have not independently confirmed that these were the dogs that were killed. Jefferson County MO authorities are investigating. (Editor's update: the Alaskan Malamute, CH Sno Ridge's Sudden Impact, was not one of the deceased)

We hope that all of you take extra care to safeguard your animals during these hot days. We have had temperatures in the high 90s for the last two weeks in here in Memphis and our dogs are uncharacteristically spending most of their time indoors in air conditioned quarters.

Our heartfelt condolences to the breeders and owners of these poor dogs. We cannot summon words to console such a loss.