It was just over two years ago that we went through a dreadfully heart-wrenching time with our Australian Shepherd, Shasta.  She sustained an embolism on her spine and was paralyzed.  Thankfully the paralysis was temporary.  Her full recovery, however, took much longer with her dad never giving up on her.  

It was daily regimen of rehab and numerous visits to the vet rehab specialists and the support of both her vets and our friends that we were able to celebrate this sweet victory of Shasta earning her MACH 6 at the Belgium Tervuren trial on the last day of the year.

Many thanks to our friends who stood by our decision to keep running with her and who understood that even though she didn't look the same that she still deserved a chance to be out there.  Shasta certainly wouldn't have wanted it any other way.  We wouldn't have made that choice without her rehab specialists' consent.

Very special thanks go out to Dr. Laurie and Dr. Christine at TOPS in Grayslake, Illinois who provided two years of professional guidance and encouragement with many different exercises and challenges for Shasta and whose philosophy is to get them back into the game and into the lifestyle they had before if at all possible.  To Integrative Pet Care who took Shasta in immediately after she was released from ICU to start her on the path of recovery.  And, speical thanks to Shasta's teacher, Dana Pike, who kept watchful eye on Shasta as she returned back to training.

They say it's the journey that really counts and that's usually the case, but for this little girl earning that MACH was pretty awesome.

Great job Gary and Shasta!

Cindy Morettin

Clark, Mollie, Jax, Mia-dog, Zelda and KaBoom!