We lost a very dear family member today. Dawson was a beautiful Collie who was such an amazing blessing in my life. He was a faithful partner both on stage, and in life. Dawson was my 2nd service dog. He alerted to my seizures and gave me a new outlook on life when I was recovering from my accident. He went above and beyond his training and even saved my daughter, Sarah's life when she was a baby and blew a very high fever during the night--because of his service dog skills, he alerted to it and woke me up, just in time to get her to a hospital.
My Dawson would have celebrated his 12th birthday this July. His spirit was very much willing, but his body betrayed his will in the end, and his time came much too quickly.
RIP, my beloved, baby boy. Thank you for all you have done for me---and all you have taught countless others on our journey together. This next journey's for you, my friend.
The following is a photographic walk through some of our incredible times together:
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| Dawson and Gracie with the Trenton Thunder mascot |
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| Relaxing together on a hike--one of our favorite activities |
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| Clowning around at Berkley fund-raiser |
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| Performing at Berkley |
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| Resting between performances at an event |
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| Enjoying a sunny day |
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| Fun in the sun with Gracie |
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| Visiting school children after a presentation |
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| On stage in Washington, D.C. |
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| Dawson w/Gracie and Nadja |
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| Dawson acted like a puppy throughout his life. Here he is, playing with Nadja |
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| My handsome boy |
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| My daughter Sarah, doing the "double dog hop" with Nadja, Gracie, and Dawson |
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| Promoting awareness of service dogs |
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| My daughter Sarah, taking Dawson to accept his "Our K9 Hero" award in 2009 |
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| Dawson and I performing at an event |
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| Dawson with WSMV weatherman, Paul Heggan |
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| My daughter, Sarah and I with Dawson |
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| Dawson and the Canine and Abled crew at an event |
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| Dawson and I performing |
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| At a fund-raising event |
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| Teaching about service dogs at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital |
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| Teaching about service dogs at a school assembly |
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| Dawson demonstrating tasks at a school assembly in NJ |
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| at a motivational speaking event |
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| His last TV appearance "Better Nashville" 2011 |
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| Always a ham |
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| Dawson patiently teaching young Sarah dog handling skills |
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| Dawson and Nadja |
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| Too cool for words |
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| The day I first met the quintessential whirlwind that is my beloved, Dawson |
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| Demonstrating service dog tasks |
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| Dawson with my first service dog, Dewey on a photo shoot for my first book cover |
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| Best buds |
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| Such a lovely boy...this photo sits in my living room, where I can always see my beautiful boy |
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| Dawson, helping with light switches |
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| Dawson helping with the laundry |
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| Dawson getting a drink from the fridge |
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| Visiting a group of fans |
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| Our "family" photo taken before our first brain injury awareness tour |
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| Dawson visits with a young fan at an event, doing what he did best--showing unconditional love to all he met. |
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| My first book |
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| Dawson, and his "Tartanside Collies" family who came to see Dawson perform at an event |
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| Dawson and I performing at an event |
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| Nothin but net |
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| Dawson with friends at a Petco Halloween event |
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| "Exit 8" tv show |
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| Dawson with my daughter, Sarah |
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"...And think of him as living in the hearts of those he touched. For nothing loved is ever lost, and he was loved so much" ~ E. Brenneman |
