Sierra-Echo Aussies

      

This Website is dedicated to my brave son, Camaron

Camaron was born on September 12, 1992.  He was diagnosed at 5 months old with Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease.  Doctors said he would never start kindergarten without a kidney transplant.  He has not required the transplant thus far though his kidneys have many cysts.

On July 6, 2001 Camaron suffered a brain aneurysm.  He remained in Intensive Care for over 6 weeks.  While in ICU he had another brain aneurysm and required risky surgery.  He remained in the hospital until October.    He was released though unable to eat, talk, sit up or walk, etc.  After a year of intense rehabilitation he is again laughing, talking, walking some and eating certain foods.  Camaron has amazed all the doctors with his progress.  Camaron currently has many weak and abnormal arteries in his brain which are predicted to hemorage.  Many specialists have been unable to find a procedure which will correct the problems in his head and his prognosis is poor.  Doctors are searching for answers as Camaron's specific case is a first for the medical world.

I am dedicating this website to my courageous son who receives the daily miracles of life. Thank you to all who have kept him in your prayers.   Camaron's doggie best friend is Tabu.  She earnestly guards him and immediately alerts me when she sees reason for concern.  Tabu knows Camaron needs her and her devotion to him is obvious.   Tabu traveled to the out of state hospital several times, so Camaron could see her.   She actually was my first definite sign that he retained some memory after his coma because when I put his hand on her he wriggled his fingers in her hair and smiled.  This was a major positive sign and accomplishment at that time because Camaron was unable to communicate or move.    

UPDATE

Camaron had an extremely complicated procedure done Nov 2002 in Phoenix to stengthen some of the arteries in his head.  This had only been done previously to 29 people ever (some with fatality) and had never been attempted on a child.  Camaron has experienced only minor complications thus far and is presently doing OK.

CELEBRATING COMPLETION OF 2 YRS IN RECOVERY THERAPY
hospitalization   July 06, 2001
Disneyworld    July 10, 2003
                          

 
helping feed the cattle



fishing pro

First Ribbon



Best Buddies

Camaron & Tabu May 2003

Camaron & Tabu enjoying canoe Christmas Present



Waiting their turn.....

   
Tabu and Camaron at the FL Pan-Handlers ASC Oct 2003 Show-Trial

A Lit'l Background

I was raised on a grain and livestock farm in Illinois.  We usually had coondogs and beagles or sometimes bird dogs.  I got my 1st Australian Shepherd in 1976 via agreeing to keep a black bi until its owner relocated and was able to get him. They never picked him up and that was the beginning of my aussie mania.  I found a NSD breeder and purchased another and eventually another. Well, you know how it goes.  For over the next 25 years I owned exclusively aussies.  The photo below shows the adopted black bi, Spook, and a blue, Elhoffer's Widowmaker, in the bed of the farm truck in a cattle pasture on a snowy Illinois morning.

I moved to warm Florida via my military assignment as an air controller on an aircraft carrier.  During radio transmissions controllers used their operating initials in the form of the phonetic alphabet for identification.    My initials are S-sierra and E-echo.  I eventually chose my radio call name,Sierra-Echo, as my ASCA and AKC registered kennel name.

I went to my very 1st dog show in October 1992 with my 1st ASCA aussie.  Within  only 7 years a pup I bred won the 1999 ASCA Nationals Winners Dog and Best of Winners ("Yogi" presented by his young owner, Renee' St. Jacques, in the Open Red class in Washington). The following year Yogi's younger brother won both the 2000 ASCA Nationals Winners Dog and the National Pre-show Winners Dog ("Stoker" presented by myself in the Bred-by-Exhibitor class in Georgia).  These pups were 3rd generation Sierra-Echo.  Their dam also was the 2000 Nationals Brood Bitch winner.  I owned only 4 aussies, so it was quite thrilling to have my small kennel do so well.  This is not just evidence of my breeding program, but also the kennels who appear on my dogs' pedigrees. 

Since those prestigous wins several more Sierra-Echo dogs have continued achieving many titles and gaining high recognition in conformation, herding, obedience, therapy and agility.  My breeding program focus is versatility with attitude of paramount importance.  Sierra-Echo is located on 10 acres in the beautiful Blackwater River State Forest near Pensacola, FL.  Sierra-Echo also now raises Alpacas and American Singer Canaries. All these animals have national winning champion bloodlines and were specifically selected for their quality.  Thank you for visiting Sierra-Echo. 

Sarah Elhoffer

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