Astro

ASTRO WAS NAMED REGION 11 MVP FOR 2003

Following is the nomination for the MVP award.

MVP Nomination for Region 11

Nominating Club (#): Too Hot to Handle (540)

Dog's Name (#), Breed: Astro (980628), Schipperke

Dog's Owner: Anastasia Santarone

Dog's Current Club Name (#): Waverunners (240)

Clubs Raced with: Waverunners

Nomination:

Astro was one of the founding members of Florida flyball. He was a member

of the 1st Florida team in NAFA history ? Waverunners #240. For the 1st

three years of his flyball career, he was the Waverunners only height dog.

He was always consistent and a steady trooper for their team. He went on to

share his position, unselfishly, to educate and train new height dogs.

Astro was always there to pick up the slack if there was a problem.

Astro and his owner, Stace Santarone helped form 6 teams within the

Florida flyball community. There are more than 100 dogs, and their owners,

who would not have entered the great sport of flyball if not for Astro's

and Stace's, untiring and unwavering dedication to the sport.

Astro has gone onto the Rainbow Bridge and we would like to honor his

memory and contributions by nominating him for the MVP of Region 11

Flyball. Astro was striving for his Flyball Master at the age of 11, when

he passed. As a thank you to Astro, we feel that this little guy with the

biggest heart should be named MVP of Region 11.

Astro was one of the six foundation dogs for the Waverunners flyball team. He started Flyball training in early 1997 and ran in the first Region 11 Flyball tournaments held in Tampa on August 8 & 9, 1998. Sadly, he crossed over to Rainbow Bridge on February 2, 2003, leaving his mom, Stacy, and new baby sister, Ayla, to carry on his legacy.

He will be sorely missed not only because he was our only height dog for a long, long time but because he was such a great little dog !

So now his page has been transferred to our "In Memoriam" page which is one way we can honor him.

We love and miss you Landshark,

Comments: This little dynamo never ceased to amaze me. He was a wonderful dog with a sparkling personality who enjoyed everything he did and lived life to the utmost. His zest for life was very contagious and he always brought a smile to everyone’s face, and most of all to mine. All of us were convinced that he would truly live forever.

When I made the decision to buy a dog in the early 90s, I did loads of research and decided on a schip. I found a local breeder, put down a deposit on a pet quality puppy and started on my Belgian adventure. Little did I know what those next eleven years would bring. Being a clueless new dog owner, I attended a household obedience class when he was 6 months old and then went on to drill class. Somehow a few people talked me into taking some special classes and before I knew it, we were showing in Obedience a few years later. Through obedience friends, I got convinced to take some crazy class called Flyball in early 1997 and by Fall of 1999 we added Agility to our repertoire. Astro always loved to be in the obedience ring to wow the crowd, and we were looking forward to learning and competing in rally obedience when he got sick in November 2002. But his absolute favorite was Flyball. He showed no signs of wanting to retire and went out in a blaze of glory at our Tropic tournament in November 2002, helping two of his teammates, Raina and Rue, attain their FMs.

Initially presumed to have ehrlichia, his final diagnosis just after Christmas was a crushing blow – a blockage in the posterior vena cava within the liver that was inoperable and untreatable. The last five weeks of his life were comfortable and relatively pain free. I spent lots of quiet time with him and when it was his time to go, he crossed peacefully to the Bridge in my arms. I couldn’t ask for anything more out of that little dog that gave me so much.

Thanks to my bright eyed boy, I enjoy a terrific circle of friends, am active in two great dog clubs and even have baby sister Ayla, daughter of foundation teammate Rue, at my side. I know that Astro’s spirit lives within her and together she and I will continue to compete in Flyball, Obedience and Agility and begin new adventures of our own in Herding and the Conformation ring.

Please visit our fellow Florida flyball team's site to see the beautiful recognition page they have set aside for my little guy. Thanks 321!