Thank you Justin and Suzette for this beautiful write-up of Remi's track. Remi (Remy von Moosbach-Zuzelek) is owned/handled by Justin Richins of R&K Hunting Company. Now 7.5 years old, he is a
son of FC Joeri vom Nonnenschlag and FC Gilda von Moosbach-Zuzelek. He
is one of the most accomplished dogs we have ever bred. Thank you
Justin!
Yesterday, was quite a day. It started off with waking up
to our little Yorkie completely lifeless. We rushed him to Marion Lott, at
River Valley Vet, barely breathing. They spent quite a while trying to bring
him back & get him going again. He had gone into hypoglycemic shock, and I
thought for sure he was gone. As we were anxiously waiting, praying he would
respond to their treatments, he finally began to show some signs of life.
During the midst of this, I received a phone call from our friends at J&J,
saying they had wounded a deer Wednesday evening, and were wondering if Remi
the wonder dog could track it down. I left with Remi & his gear in tow, and
we headed towards the mountains. This turned out to be one of the most intense,
grueling, difficult tracks this little teckel has done. We started out in the
high country, in a mix of chaparral & pine trees, worked our way around the
mountain, down a rock slide, through several thick oak brush and maple stands,
down the middle of a few two track roads, and across some grazed off
pastures. Just as we were about to call
off the search, due to extreme fatigue, exhaustion, and being completely out of
water, we caught a glimpse of what looked to be an antler between some grass
and sage brush. Sure enough, against all odds, and some extremely wicked
terrain, Remi saved the day once again!
The track was over 3.5 miles long, not
including all the loops and back checking work the dog has to do, to
continually double check himself. Calculating that distance in, the miles were
easily doubled. Every time I work with Remi on a track, especially one of this
magnitude, he never ceases to amaze me. Especially considering he has been run
over by a 3/4 ton truck, which required him to have a total hip replacement,
was gored by a deer, which lacerated his liver, and punctured his intestine, went
head to head with a coyote, multiple throw downs with porcupines, disappeared the whole day, after jumping out of the truck in the rugged mountains of
Wyoming, to go after an antelope that he watched fall down after trying to
justo through a fence, signaling the "this must be a wounded animal I need
to track" response. My little soul mate has definitely defied all odds on
multiple occasions. We gutted the deer, gave Remi his liver reward, then quickly
sped home to watch my other son play his last football game. He threw some
amazing passes, and a long distance
touchdown pass. I am so grateful for these boys of mine. Definitely a
proud papa, full of miracles day.
Justin Richins
R&K Hunting Company Inc.