I knew he was special from the first moment I looked into those sparkling and soulful brown eyes at the adopt-a-thon. 

Lance was particularly fond of walks, Frisbee, the ocean, but most of all, playing agility.  He was the class clown in his early lessons – frequently prone to the “zoomies” – so I never dreamed that we would progress to participating in a competitive trial.  However, Lance skillfully taught me the meaning of patience and love, stringing me along with just enough positive reinforcement to keep me going.

Lance was diagnosed with lymphoma at the age of 8.  Together we fought the battle, while we also focused on enjoying our time together.  For Lance, that meant playing agility!  As fate would have it, he closed in on his NATCH as the lymphoma closed in on him.  In the end, we lost the battle 15 months after he was diagnosed.  However, his joyful and persevering spirit lives on in the NATCH that he was awarded post-humously, a champion to the end!

I am forever grateful

Shelly Harris