Ebony at Blyss Kennels. 2003.Through our serendipitous acquisition of two wonderful dogs in 2002, that is, our English Labrador, “Ebony”, and the borzoi, Lara’s River of Dreams “Casanova”, we met two significant dog breeders. The first one was Mary Catizone, a Labrador Retriever breeder, whom I met at a Match Show. The second one was Joseph Lara, a borzoi breeder who had a young borzoi for sale that he wanted shown. Joseph then introduced us to the other great borzoi breeders in the area, Karen Staudt-Cartabona, and Roni and Jennifer Zucker. These individuals, to whom we owed so much, sponsored our memberships into local area breed clubs and the Borzoi Club of America. Together, they put us in a position where we would have the opportunity to meet other people devoted to these breeds. Together, Bob and I then embarked upon a path of learning and hard work that lead us to a point where a great but hidden dream had lain all our lives, or at least mine: to establish Blyss Kennels. However the timing was right. Everything else of importance to me: family relations in my family of origin, my marriage and my career, had either collapsed or been destroyed. Those failures galvanized me into a state of intense energy and commitment to focused on creating Blyss Kennels.
There has been much speculation about the role of Bob in the establishment of kennel and the quality of our relationship. Some of the negativity has been expressed by me in my Blog, and sadly, some of it is true. However, allow me put all speculation to rest with the following statement of fact. Problems or not, Bob is absolved of any misstep or misunderstanding that may have occurred during the 20 years of our relationship together. Bob and Bob alone made it possible for me to establish Blyss Kennels by purchasing our beautiful home in 2003 where we would live together for ten years, the iconic place I would come to refer to as “Blyss House”. He made it possible for us to buy or breed the borzoi that would become the Blyss Borzoi. I never could have accomplished this feat alone.
Tragedy soon followed with Bob’s premature demise in 2011 forcing me to downsize and leave our beautiful home behind. Looking back, I will never forget what Bob did for me. For while he lived, I realize how much he loved and supported me. He risked his financial solvency for me, for what he allowed me to do. Moreover, my own health was in jeopardy due to a mysterious illness that was getting worse. He knew this was what I would need to heal. Having Blyss Kennels allowed me that chance. I healed slowly at first, but I healed. From this perspective, let it be said I hold my late husband in the highest of esteem and gratitude.
When I downsized, I only placed one dog, our youngster,”Tresor”, the Mikhailya puppy we kept from her breeding, in the home of a nearby friend, an arrangement that has worked well. However, there were three others, all older borzoi, Mikhailya, Paris and Casanova. The home I chose to live in had to accommodate them. Actually I found such a home, nearly a short mile away from the one Bob and I had together. Sadly, both Mikhailya and Casanova died within the first year we lived there. I was not prepared for that shock. It was incredible to me that they left me so soon, when I still needed them so much. However they lived there long enough for them to have acquired a celebrity status from making so many new friends on their walks. They were grieved and missed when they passed.
But let there be no doubt that it was Bob who made Blyss Kennels possible for the full ten years it existed. Bob also allowed me to begin a long road to a recovery that made me stronger than I had ever been, although many weaknesses, physically and emotionally, remained. I hope he knows how much I appreciate all he did for me, even if I may have been angry at him at times, or if my gratitude was not expressed in a timely or appropriate manner when he died.