Live Life Off-Leash

Miss Ellie: A Heartfelt Goodbye & A New Mission Begins. Our September newsletter brings a mix of heartache and hope. We're saying goodbye to our beloved Vizsla, Miss Ellie, the shining spirit behind Viz Whizz Dogs. The past few weeks have been a painful journey, one that many in our community know all too well.

But from loss comes determination. We're more committed than ever to fighting for our breed's health and wellbeing. That's why we've assembled a team of top experts to launch our groundbreaking Viz Whizz Health Survey, zeroing in on the cancer that's stealing our dogs away too soon. This database will be available to all our members. And we won't stop there – we'll be sparking crucial conversations about the power of necropsies to uncover life-saving knowledge. Stay tuned for a special email packed with details on how you can be part of this study.

Celebrating the Joy of the Journey. Amidst the challenges, we find strength in the stories of our community. Meet Terry Ann, whose book 'Accidental Bird Dog' showcases the incredible potential of a pet dog. And get ready for a Barktober filled with fun hikes and adventures that celebrate the unbreakable bond between us and our fast dogs. Follow your local Facebook page for the latest updates.

You're the Heart of Viz Whizz Dogs. Whether you have questions, want to join our pack, or are seeking a responsible breeder, don't hesitate to reach out.

Happy Viz Whizzing,

Nicky Monahan - Founder, Viz Whizz Dogs

Miss Ellie left us on Monday, August 26th, surrounded by love as we held her close and whispered our final goodbyes. At just 11 years young, her spark was extinguished far too soon. In her final days, Ellie's appetite waned, and a faint cough appeared after drinking water. By the third day, our vibrant girl was lethargic, her breathing labored. We rushed her to the Emergency Animal Hospital in Crystal Falls, where oxygen flowed to ease her struggle. X-rays painted a grim picture: her lungs, devoid of healthy tissue. We clung to hope, keeping her overnight for morning scans that might offer a path forward. But fate had other plans.

The scans revealed the devastating truth: Ellie's lungs, spleen, and liver were riddled with innumerable nodules. Diffuse metastatic disease had taken hold, leaving no options. With shattered hearts, we made the kindest choice we could – to set our girl free. In our darkest hour, our incredible community rallied around us. Dr. David Biller, renowned professor and head of Radiology at Kansas State University, and Dr. Arch Robertson, lead ultrasonographer and founder of VETMED, consulted on Ellie's case, bringing their expertise to bear. Even in tragedy, we felt the power of our community.

We delivered Ellie's body to Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab, seeking answers in a necropsy. The results confirmed: malignant neoplasia in her liver, metastasized to her lungs, spleen, and kidneys.

As Viz Whizz Dog #1, she birthed an incredible community that will live on forever. Ellie was a true pack leader, a hiking companion who reveled in off-leash adventures. Her wiggle-butt greetings, complete with a shoe or sock, and love of her humans are forever etched in our hearts. At every meetup, Ellie greeted dogs, keeping the youngsters in line and would happily go up to those offering her pats.

Now, our sweet girl runs free, sprinting through the rainbow bridge alongside all the pack members we lost too soon. Ellie may be gone, but the community she inspired will thrive, a testament to the spirit of one incredible dog. This past Sunday we hosted three wonderful hikes in her memory - Boston MA, Austin, TX & Denver, CO - and we are so grateful to all of our members that were able to join and make it so special.

Necropsy, a post-mortem examination, can provide invaluable insights into our dog's health and potentially shed light on trends affecting our dogs as a whole. By understanding what a necropsy entails and its benefits, we can make informed decisions to support the advancement of canine health research.

What is a Dog Necropsy?

A necropsy, also known as an animal autopsy, is a detailed medical examination of your dog's body after death. The procedure is similar to a human autopsy, with the goal of determining the cause of death, identifying any diseases or abnormalities, and gathering data on the animal's overall health.

Veterinary pathologists, specialists with advanced training in understanding disease processes, perform necropsies. They carefully examine all organs, looking for signs of disease, injury, or other abnormalities. They collect tissue samples for further testing, such as histopathology (microscopic examination of tissues) or microbiology (testing for infectious agents).

What Can We Learn from a Necropsy?

A necropsy can reveal a wealth of information about your dog's health. It can:

• Determine the cause of death: Understanding why your dog passed away can bring closure and potentially help you prevent similar tragedies with future pets.
• Identify underlying conditions: Necropsies often uncover diseases or conditions that weren't diagnosed during life. This information is crucial for breeding decisions if your dog was part of a breeding program.
• Contribute to breed research: By participating in necropsy programs, you're providing vital data to researchers studying breed-specific health trends. This collective information can drive advancements in preventing and treating diseases common in Vizslas.

The Importance of Necropsy in Vizsla Research

• Identify breed-specific health trends: Necropsy data helps researchers understand what health issues disproportionately affect Vizslas. This knowledge can lead to early detection protocols, improved treatments, and potential breedings strategies to reduce the incidence of inherited conditions.
• Advance genetic research: Necropsy samples and findings can be used in genetic studies. By identifying the genetic markers associated with certain diseases, breeders can make more informed decisions to minimize the risk of passing those conditions to offspring.
• Improve the lives of future Vizslas: The more data researchers have, the better equipped they are to develop strategies for preventing and managing diseases. Your contribution can lead to healthier, longer lives for Vizslas in the generations to come.

While the decision to pursue a necropsy can be emotionally challenging, the knowledge gained has the potential to greatly benefit the breed as a whole. If you're facing the loss of your dog, consider discussing necropsy with your veterinarian to explore this opportunity to contribute to the health and wellbeing of our beloved breed.

We are overwhelmed by all the support and goodwill from our community. At the end of July we put out an urgent plea online - "Help us save this sweet boy, just 2 years old - literally minutes away from being euthanized because his owners were given the worst case scenario, a huge quote and no hope after experiencing cluster seizures for the past day/night. He’s stable, and being surrendered to rescue". Thanks to all the generous donations we raised just over $5.5K in 24 hours. Winston has touched all of our hearts and the stars aligned, it wasn’t his time. We reunited him with his parents who support him and Viz Whizz covered his medical costs including most recent visits to specialists thanks to all the donations. They are so grateful to all of YOU for helping us save him. https://fb.watch/uFjnI8PLDZ/

Our "Viz Whizz Hallo-zoomies" tshirts are back out & we're taking orders! To ensure they are delivered in time for Halloween, orders will CLOSE Sun, Sept. 22nd and ship around 10 business days later. Long & Short sleeve available [Adult sizes $16 each / Youth sizes available $14 each].

https://hallo-zoomies-t-shirts-copy.cheddarup.com

In 2013, Terry Ann Fernando got a Vizsla named Zara to be a running partner. At the time, she had no interest in hunting, and Zara showed no desire for birds as a puppy. For the first few years, Zara lived the life of a normal, spoiled Vizsla, including going to many Vizsla meetups, similar to what Viz Whizz offers today. A few years later, at her breeder's encouragement, Terry Ann took Zara to a Junior Hunter test where Zara unexpectedly earned perfect scores.

With no experience in hunting and against the odds, Terry Ann embarks on an unanticipated journey to build on Zara’s natural abilities. From novice handler to competitive trainer, she navigates the challenging world of hunting events, facing not only the steep learning curve but also the emotional rollercoaster of setbacks and triumphs. The Accidental Bird Dog is a relatable memoir about what happens when we step outside of our comfort zones and how these dogs can change our lives.

Check out the links below and grab your copy today.

Amazon:

Paperback

Ebook

Autographed Copies:

https://accidentalbirddog.com/book/

Purebred Vizsla, 4-year-old female, spayed, UTD on all vaccines, and in great health. She loves playing fetch, cuddling on the couch, and chasing squirrels in the backyard.

She is a sweet typical goofball V, but has a history of resource guarding behavior that the owners have worked on for years but sadly she snapped and their baby and have made the tough decision to rehome her. They are absolutely heartbroken but believe this is what is ultimately best for both Pepper and the family. She needs a home without babies/young kids and someone that understands resource guarding boundaries. She loves playing ball, it’s her favorite game and swimming. She’s well socialized and does well with other dogs in daycare situations but has always been an only dog in the home.

For more information, please complete our application form: https://forms.gle/uY44ZSrQtq85D9mP7

We are extremely grateful to our foster mom for taking him in and giving him a safe space to decompress. Cocktail was dumped outside the city limits and found a ranch were he stayed for two weeks even after being scared off by a BB-gun.

He’s very young, (around 7-10 months) scared and already had a hard start in life. For rhe past two weeks he’s lived outside in the heat, sleeping under a carport. Now he sleeps inside and has adjusted to foster life well, learning to walk on leash and be so gentle with children and cats.

He had a vet appointment for shots and we are raising funds so that he can see a vet about his “broken” tail with appropriate surgery. Once he’s healthy and acclimated, Cocktail will be looking for a new forever home. But for now, he’s safe and very loved.

DONATE HERE:

https://venmo.com/code?user_id=3048022636232704117

https://www.paypal.me/vizwhizz

Rosie is a playful, snuggly vizsla-mix who's looking for her forever home, despite a rough start she loves her humans. This one-year-old sweetheart loves people, loves to cuddle, and is always up for an adventure. She joined us on a meet up and did great with all the dogs she met along the way. Rosie gets along great with kids and is gentle with them. She's smart and curious, and she loves to learn new things. She walks nicely on a leash and wears a harness. Foster mom is moving so we urgently need to get her placed.

For more information, please complete our application form: https://forms.gle/uY44ZSrQtq85D9mP7

It always makes our heart happy to be able to re-home dogs surrendered into our care. Please welcome these dogs into the Viz Whizz family.

All our Pack Leaders volunteer their time to host our fun off-leash meet ups. Please keep dogs leashed until the Pack Leaders tell you its safe to release the dogs. For the safety of our pack our Pack Leaders have guidelines to follow and we ask that you listen and respect them.

Owners are all legally liable and responsible for their own dogs at our off-leash meetups.

Please note starting times & check Facebook groups for updates on Events.

Viz Whizz Dogs works hard to promote responsible breeders and has an extensive list of great breeders across the USA. If you would like more information, please reach out and we can share that with you. We have wonderful relationships with many of the breeders and know their dogs from our meet ups we host on the trails. If you're looking to be owned by a vizsla or fast dog, we encourage you to join a local meet up and come talk to members and see the dogs in action.

Viz Whizz Dogs is a recognized club for the AKC Fit Dog. You're invited to join us for a hike to get additional points! Here is the link to find out more of what is involved and how to participate. https://www.akc.org/sports/akc-family-dog-program/akc-fit-dog/akc-fit-dog-titles/

We've created an Amazon list to share some of ours and members favorite things and have created lists of items we talk about in our webinars. We hope this makes it easier for you to find the things we love and trust and have bought for our own dogs. We receive a small commission if you use our link, which in turn supports our rescue program.

Click here to see our store: https://tinyurl.com/3x34y3tp

Dogs needing homes hasn't slowed down and we are seeing more and more Vizslas coming into our rescue program. We have launched a new Facebook page for our Viz Whizz Rescues so that all dogs will be in one place and easy to share. We appreciate your support, as we all know, Rescue takes a village. Click here to join. https://tinyurl.com/5n7jz4hk

Snag the best gear in town and rep our pack with pride! From bold tees to hats that'll make the pup-arazzi go wild! By buying our merch, you're not just looking fire – you're helping us support Viz Whizz and our Rescue dog program. So why wait? Get shopping now, most items ship next day!

my.cheddarup.com/c/viz-whizz-t-shirts

my.cheddarup.com/c/in-my-dog-mom-era

https://viz-whizz-t-shirts-copy.cheddarup.com

Viz Whizz Dogs promotes responsible off-leash hiking and education. Across the USA our Pack Leaders help build local communities to support owners and provide a healthy lifestyle for their dogs. We are a recognized breed activity by the Vizsla Club of America and registered club for AKC Fit Dog. We have packs in over 40 states.

If you'd like to be a Pack Leader, Sponsor or have any questions, please reach out.

Email: nicky@vizwhizzdogs.com
Website: https://www.facebook.com/vizwhizzdogs
Phone: (339)203-2099