Ch. Ri Lee's Stetson Revark, ROM

"Stetson"

Stetson was a Top 5 Tibetan Terrier and First A.O.M winner at Westminster.
He has great bone and dark eyes. He is also producing fabulous, colorful championed get!

Ch. Regalia Alexander the Great ROM

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Ch. Aura Regalia L'tl Latin Lupe Lu ROM

View Stetson's Photo Gallery

11/27/97

Pedigree
OFA Health Test Results
Thyroid Normal
Hips Good
Cardio Normal
CERF Normal

16 1/4 inches
27 pounds

Owner: Nikkie Kinziger

 

This is a story about

the 1998 Westminster Kennel Club First Award of Merit winner (at the age of 14 months)

CH. Ri Lee's Stetson Revark, ROM better known as Stetson.


It was a night like most as I did my evening chores, a cold, blustery Wisconsin December 7th, 2008. I returned home from the Packer game and let my constant companion and stud dog deluxe, Stetson, out in the yard, as I always do, while finishing my kennel chores. I watched as he disappeared, romping off in the light snow, happy to be free of the house confines. He is my old guy. He’s 12 years of age although he acts as if he were 2. He’s steady, loyal, and has never left my yard in all the years we’ve been together.

Something must have lured him away. I searched countless hours on my own. The next day, my friends joined the search but still no Stetson. Could track his paw prints by the house and alongside the driveway but no further. There just were no signs of him. The early morning hours of our search was when my friend saw it; the biggest wolf she'd ever seen and it was behind my kennel. My stomach churned. I knew we had wolves but I had never seen one nearby. I always figured the dogs kept them away. Our search intensified with a renewed urgency as we were to get another 14, yes, 14 inches, of snow. I continued to do all I could: flyers, posters, phone calls to all the veterinary clinics, humane societies, and even the requisite reward. As the temperature plummeted and the winds began to blow there was still no sign of Stetson.

By now a week had passed and I was heartbroken. Still looking, hoping, but beginning to lose faith. I know he is a Tibetan Terrier, I know they were bred to withstand winters in the high mountains of Tibet, but this was Wisconsin and my dogs are my children. Yes, he has always loved to spend time outside, but not overnight, and certainly not in the middle of winter with below zero wind chills. Where did he go? How did the wolf grab him? Why wasn’t there blood on the snow. The pond is frozen over, he couldn’t have fallen through the ice, or could he?

On the eighth day, I walked into the sunroom to get my noisy puppies bones before settling them into bed. I glanced outside as I always did when walking past a window. OH NO! I looked outside and Stetson was standing in the driveway staring at me. I flew open the door and he raced up the stairs, into the house, and directly into the kennel of Trio, my Tibetan Terrier girl. He would not leave her side. He had a dish of food, some water, and followed Trio around the house all night. He was very thin with small bite marks which were already healing. His gums were pink (a good sign in dogs) and he seem exhausted, but other than that, it's as if he hadn’t even been missing.

The next day, I immediately ran him to the vet for a thorough checkup. The vet said he expected to hear the rasping sounds of pneumonia in Stetson’s lungs due to the length of time he was exposed to the winter elements. However, that was not the case. Even his heart was as solid and strong as ever. The vet said if he didn't know this old dog was 12, there would be no way to could convince him otherwise. Yes, Stetson was thin to the point of his ribs and backbone sticking out, he had bite marks on his ears and paw, plus we found he had a broken tail. The tail was broken at the base, where it adjoins his hind quarters. Given that, the worst case scenario was he would never carry his tail over his back again as Tibetan’s do. If that was the worst thing to come out of this -- I’ll gladly take it!

It is now a month since his disappearance, and Stetson is doing beautifully. He's gaining his weight back and even carrying his tail over his back, happily wagging it. Who says miracles don't happen? I am not sure what lured him out of the yard. All I know is he was gone for 8 days during which he had to endure 2 snowstorms, a driving winter sleet, and frigid temperatures of -21 degrees below zero with brutal winds. What a testament it is for a dog to survive that kind of brutal weather. He most certainly is a dog who still can withstand the elements that he was originally bred for! I would like to think my years as a breeder working hard to maintain the breed standard and ensure my Tibetan Terriers are true to their lineage from Tibet, but I really believe it was more just him -- how strong he is in mind and body. This year, in our house, Merry was truly a part of Christmas.
 


click thumbnails for full sized view
 

Stetson granddaughter....  CARLY
Carly is owned by Amy and Hal Crane in Tucson AZ.
CH. Excalibur Dolly Anna...Dolly
a Stetson daughter
Dolly is a sister to Sara owned by Linda Immel and Jim Joseph of Excalibur Tibetan Terriers.  Dolly was shown by Carol Millar.

 
Ch. Connemara Ashlyn Sirrocco, a Stetson son,
owned by A & H Crane in Arizona
Top 20 Tibetan Terrier in very limited showing
Stetson daughter, Sara....CH. Excalibur Salishan Sarabi who finished with several majors and a group 3 from the classes... shown expertly by Brian and Nancy Martin for Linda Immel and Jim Joseph

Another one of Stetson's get,
CH. Lil Sinn's Daphne Doo
owned by Phil Sinn

One of Stetson's daughters who is excelling in agility.
Ri Lee's Giorgio Girl... aka Maggie. She is owned by Chris and Barrett Rodriguez

HOME :: CH. BOYS :: CH GIRLS :: UP AND COMING :: PUPPIES :: KENNEL :: HANDLING

Nikkie Kinziger

7977 County Road E

Oconto Falls, WI 54154-9630

 920 846 3524

fax - 920 846 0560

 nikkie@ez-net.com

Last Update: 01/24/2009

 

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