Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! May you find peace and contentment this holiday season. Paula, Rick and the zoo (top to bottom: Ziva, Paula, Jack; Ziva; Jack; Suzie; Sir Jeb)!

Godspeed Larry - We'll Miss You!

I was stunned when I received an email on Saturday, November 28th informing me that Larry Kurpiewski had died at a Kart race in Sonoma, CA. I must have read that email 10 times hoping I was not seeing it right, hoping there had been some mix up. It was unbelievable, unimaginable.

Larry and his wife Barb are students of mine. Larry and his GSD Nigel also joined our SAR group, Treasure Valley Search dogs. He and Nigel passed their certification with NAPWDA back in August in Billings, MT. Those two had come so far. I wasn't sure they'd make it in the beginning, but they did! Not only that, but Nigel was doing some really impressive work. I loved Larry's refreshing attitude. He was honest, hard working, caring. He loved that dog!

To loose a person like Larry is devastating. He is the kind of person the world needs more of. The more I learned about him, the more I admired him. And now, as I read comments from others that knew him, it's obvious that they all had the same experience. What a huge loss to us all.

Please keep Barb and the rest of Larry's family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. Services are Monday, December 7th:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/idahostatesman/obituary.aspx?n=larry-s-kurpiewski&pid=136838720