Miles' Story and Mission
ADCH AnAngel Road Trip MXB, MJB, TM-Silver
2 Time Regional Champion, 5 Time Cynosport World Games Semi Finalist and 2013 AKC National Finalist
“Be thankful for each day. Each step.”- Anonymous
Miles was born on May 22nd, 2007 along with his five littermates in our home in Houston, Texas. As the puppies started growing I noticed something different about Miles and was drawn to this adorable, tiny little puppy. I picked him up at three weeks old, eyes barely open and he wagged his tail and kissed my face. From that day on he was mine. I started training Miles, who was destined to be an agility dog, from the moment he was born. He experienced new surfaces, sounds and people before his eyes and ears were even open. As a breeder I wanted to give the puppies positive experiences that would build confidence. Miles took everything in stride and had every quality I was looking for in a puppy.
At the age of one I started to train Miles more seriously and entered him in our first competition. While most dogs his age were “green” and acted immature, my instructors told me that Miles was an old soul. Miles took his job very seriously and put 100 percent effort and heart into his agility work. He quickly moved through the ranks and became a Regional Champion at the tender age of two. His success continued and we became a stronger and better team. During this time Miles earned his Agility Dog Championship, became a two-time Regional Champion, five time Cynosport World Games Semi-finalist and an AKC National Finalist. Of course, Miles never knew that he had these special titles as he just enjoyed running, playing and being with me.
Less than a month after becoming an AKC National finalist we entered a Regional event in Kerrville, Texas with competitors from around the country. Miles stepped into the ring and won everything the first day. I was so happy and looking forward to Sunday when we would compete to qualify for the Nationals. Unfortunately, I went from thinking about Nationals to fighting for Miles’ life in a matter of hours.
In a matter of hours, I went from thinking about Semi-Final byes to praying he would be able to walk. At approximately, 2:00 A.M., I woke to Miles screaming and thrashing on the floor. After what seemed to be an eternity, thirty or so seconds, I realized that Miles was unable to move any part of his body from the neck down. He lay completely motionless on the floor. There wasn’t an emergency vet in Kerrville, but my wonderful roommate, Destiny Brooks was able to find a vet that would come in after hours. The vet examined him and told me that he needed to see a Neurologist as soon as possible. I called my parents from Houston and they drove through the night at 2:00 AM to Kerrville and brought him directly to Gulf Coast Neurology. An MRI was performed and the news was grim. The neurologist told me that he had a Fibrocartilaginous Embolism, located at C5-C6, consuming a massive disc and a half space in his neck. While most FCE’s have a good chance for recovery, Miles was very different since it was located in his neck and the area innervated all four limbs. The Neurologist gave him a very grim prognosis for being able to function normally again. There was a slight chance for recovery, but she wouldn’t commit if she thought he would even be able to urinate on his own or walk. A vet even talked to me about the “e-word”. My rehab vet, Dr. Jeanette Lubeanu DVM, in Lubbock was the only one that was fully confident that he WOULD walk again. I just had to give him the chance…
My mother and father were complete saints and cared for Miles in Houston while I was finishing up my Bachelor’s Degree. Those first few weeks were so incredibly difficult being away from him. My mom had to turn him every two hours, perform physical therapy through out the day and express his bladder, as he had zero function. He was only able to lift his chin and give the occasional lick for the first two and a half weeks. Around this time I was supposed to attend International Team Tryouts with Cruise, but I just couldn’t bring myself to watch or practice agility. My heart just wasn’t into it... At approximately three weeks, our friend and veterinarian, Brittany Schaezler DVM took care of Miles for a week. Throughout the week she performed acupuncture on him and he became stronger and stronger. He started to prop himself up, stood, and finally, took his first wobbly sideways steps. He looked like a foal standing up for the first time. I cried many, many tears of joy that day. Each day, Miles became stronger and stronger with physical therapy and acupuncture sessions. After what seemed to be an eternity, I finally was able to come home after the semester ended. To my surprise, Miles met me at the back door. I cried and he wagged his tail and licked my face for at least twenty minutes.
While Miles is able to go outside on his own, walk, trot, do “Sheltie spins”, play and be a somewhat normal pet, but he’ll never step on agility equipment again, but that’s okay, because I still have him with me. Miles is my first USDAA dog, my first ADCH, my first Regional Champion and became a second generation AKC National Finalist at his first AKC Nationals this year. I’m so lucky to have him and I don’t take a day for granted that he’s with me.
Miles was born on May 22nd, 2007 along with his five littermates in our home in Houston, Texas. As the puppies started growing I noticed something different about Miles and was drawn to this adorable, tiny little puppy. I picked him up at three weeks old, eyes barely open and he wagged his tail and kissed my face. From that day on he was mine. I started training Miles, who was destined to be an agility dog, from the moment he was born. He experienced new surfaces, sounds and people before his eyes and ears were even open. As a breeder I wanted to give the puppies positive experiences that would build confidence. Miles took everything in stride and had every quality I was looking for in a puppy.
At the age of one I started to train Miles more seriously and entered him in our first competition. While most dogs his age were “green” and acted immature, my instructors told me that Miles was an old soul. Miles took his job very seriously and put 100 percent effort and heart into his agility work. He quickly moved through the ranks and became a Regional Champion at the tender age of two. His success continued and we became a stronger and better team. During this time Miles earned his Agility Dog Championship, became a two-time Regional Champion, five time Cynosport World Games Semi-finalist and an AKC National Finalist. Of course, Miles never knew that he had these special titles as he just enjoyed running, playing and being with me.
Less than a month after becoming an AKC National finalist we entered a Regional event in Kerrville, Texas with competitors from around the country. Miles stepped into the ring and won everything the first day. I was so happy and looking forward to Sunday when we would compete to qualify for the Nationals. Unfortunately, I went from thinking about Nationals to fighting for Miles’ life in a matter of hours.
In a matter of hours, I went from thinking about Semi-Final byes to praying he would be able to walk. At approximately, 2:00 A.M., I woke to Miles screaming and thrashing on the floor. After what seemed to be an eternity, thirty or so seconds, I realized that Miles was unable to move any part of his body from the neck down. He lay completely motionless on the floor. There wasn’t an emergency vet in Kerrville, but my wonderful roommate, Destiny Brooks was able to find a vet that would come in after hours. The vet examined him and told me that he needed to see a Neurologist as soon as possible. I called my parents from Houston and they drove through the night at 2:00 AM to Kerrville and brought him directly to Gulf Coast Neurology. An MRI was performed and the news was grim. The neurologist told me that he had a Fibrocartilaginous Embolism, located at C5-C6, consuming a massive disc and a half space in his neck. While most FCE’s have a good chance for recovery, Miles was very different since it was located in his neck and the area innervated all four limbs. The Neurologist gave him a very grim prognosis for being able to function normally again. There was a slight chance for recovery, but she wouldn’t commit if she thought he would even be able to urinate on his own or walk. A vet even talked to me about the “e-word”. My rehab vet, Dr. Jeanette Lubeanu DVM, in Lubbock was the only one that was fully confident that he WOULD walk again. I just had to give him the chance…
My mother and father were complete saints and cared for Miles in Houston while I was finishing up my Bachelor’s Degree. Those first few weeks were so incredibly difficult being away from him. My mom had to turn him every two hours, perform physical therapy through out the day and express his bladder, as he had zero function. He was only able to lift his chin and give the occasional lick for the first two and a half weeks. Around this time I was supposed to attend International Team Tryouts with Cruise, but I just couldn’t bring myself to watch or practice agility. My heart just wasn’t into it... At approximately three weeks, our friend and veterinarian, Brittany Schaezler DVM took care of Miles for a week. Throughout the week she performed acupuncture on him and he became stronger and stronger. He started to prop himself up, stood, and finally, took his first wobbly sideways steps. He looked like a foal standing up for the first time. I cried many, many tears of joy that day. Each day, Miles became stronger and stronger with physical therapy and acupuncture sessions. After what seemed to be an eternity, I finally was able to come home after the semester ended. To my surprise, Miles met me at the back door. I cried and he wagged his tail and licked my face for at least twenty minutes.
While Miles is able to go outside on his own, walk, trot, do “Sheltie spins”, play and be a somewhat normal pet, but he’ll never step on agility equipment again, but that’s okay, because I still have him with me. Miles is my first USDAA dog, my first ADCH, my first Regional Champion and became a second generation AKC National Finalist at his first AKC Nationals this year. I’m so lucky to have him and I don’t take a day for granted that he’s with me.
