August 23, 1991 ~ May 9, 2003

Sad Day at Western Hills......

Today I lost a friend, Nikki. It has been a hard battle these last few years but we have treasured each day we have had with her.

Nikki was special from the start. When I was looking for a show dog I would look at my Aussie Times and just study them. The same type dog kept catching my eye, always the same sire, CH Briarbrooks Center Ring.  I would mark my Times and wait for the next times. Same thing again. So I contacted Lorna Luce of Sugarbush and asked for that special Beau puppy. At the time she didn't have anything be we kept in contact. Well Beau died early in 1991 and I figured that was also the end of me getting my Beau puppy. But Lorna had semen saved and soon after inseminated Rita, CH Sugarbush's Lit Bit of Class. Well there was two puppies, Nikki and a black tri male. Lorna said if she turned out she was mine. Well 2 months later I got my big ball of fur off the plane and she kissed my sister all the way home. I was in love!

Nikki was one of a kind dog, a heart dog. From carrying socks around to just being with you when you needed her. One time she, I feel, saved my son's life. At the time he was having bad croup and one night he couldn't breath. Normally I can hear him, but that night I was fast asleep.  Nikki woke me up and I was able to hear Wesley. We had to rush him to the emergency room that night. I thank Nikki for being there.

Nikki has been the leader in the house for years, she would tell dogs when they were not behaving right. And 99% of the time she was correct and we let her tell them! All the dogs respected her. 2 years ago we had a fright with cancer, we had to take her front leg off. But the dog never missed a beat! It ended up not being cancer, but the leg still needed to come due to sever pain. We have a wonderful vet that knows how  much our kids means to us and knew we wanted to see if we could have her for longer without pain. Well the leg came off and when she healed she would run around like nothing. My friends would call her the pirate dog!  She still would put dogs in their place and still held the respect of others.

Nikki was my first Champion to finish. She did well. As a producer, well we would call her Not Enough Naughty Nikki! Her litters were small, but that is ok. Each one of her babies are very treasured. They all have that wonderful temperament that she stamped on her babies.

I treasure the extra time I had with Nikki. Today was hard, we found out several weeks ago it seems she had a splenetic tumor. She got to the point of more bad days then good days.

Thank you Nikki for the time we did get to spend with you. Thank you for the love. Thank you for the wonderful children.... We treasure you and you will always be a part of my heart.......

CH Sugarbushs Lasting Impression, Nikki
8/23/91 - 5/9/03
One of those special ones that will always be apart of you......

We love you,
Heidi and your babies
Western Hills Dream Catcher II, CD, OA, OAJ, RS-O, OAC, GS-O, OGC,
JS-N, NJC,NAC-V,RV-N,NJC-V,JV-N,NGC-V,GV-N,TN-N, U-AGI,HIC, CGC (Jessie)
A-Ch/Gr. Ch Western Hills Marshall Dillon, HIC, Major pointed AKC (Dillon),
Western Hills in Motion NA, NAJ, RS-N, NAC, GS-N, NGC (Fly),
ASCA Ch. Western Hills Ruckus Rodeo, DNA-VP, pointed AKC (Ruckus).
Western Hills Miss Kitty, Calico

Owned, loved and sadly missed by the Mobley family, Western Hills Aussies
http://www.westernhillsaussies.com