Handler of the Year and Junior Handler of the Year Award in Memory of: Karyn Dawes

They say by looking into a dog eyes they can see your soul and the two souls join as one. This is very true in Karyn Dawes case. She was a unique person whose heart and soul were consumed with kindness, love and joy.

She had the “Can-Do” fun attitude, and she did it all in her life; from scuba diving, aviation pilot, aviation instructor, aviation aerobatics and magazine editor. Karyn has tried and done just about everything.

The dog world has lost a very important person on earth. Karyn has lifted so many souls in the k-9 and human world with her technique of education and spirit. She always cheered for the underdog and helped and listened to all. She was a pillar in the dog community and competed in every dog sport known to man that was available to her. She has touched many hearts and souls all over the United States and abroad. Karyn’s stellar sportsmanship shined as she greeted and cheered no matter if she won or lost. Her integrality was beyond fabulous and was greatly admired.

Let’s take a short look into Karyn Dawes past. Her proudest moment in life is when she gave birth to a bouncing baby girl named Karyn Dawes Jr.; those two were thick as thieves and had a grand time because after all they were more than mother and daughter. They were best friends. She was a 4-H leader for both dogs and horses.

I think it is safe to say it is Junior’s fault for getting her mom into the bully breed when she brought home a pit bull pup she named Bags. At the time Karyn was into German Shepherds, showing horse and other herding group canines. Karyn looked into Bags eyes and fell in love with that terrier mentality of the “CAN DO” attitude. From there on Karyn devoted her life to the Bully Breed. She was a super advocate for fighting BSL for the American Pit Bull Terriers.

Karyn soon went on and bought her next American Pit Bull Terrier named Bulldozer. She and Bull dozer went on to big and great things from being in a movie to being the first American Pit Bull Terrier to title flyball. Still ranked 10th in breed in NAFA (North American flyball association) titles are FDCH, flyball dog champion FDCH-s FDCH-G FM flyball master FMX flyball master excellent. She became Karyn’s copilot in the 1932 Fairchild Bi-Wing air plane she and her father restored together and had a Citabria she did aerobatics with. It wasn’t long after that she was introduced to the Stafford Bull Terrier at a Fly Ball competition and the rest was history. This is where she made her mark in the SBT community and into many hearts of 2-and-4-legged friends across the Nation.

Bull Dozer and Bags

Karyn and her canines earned so many titles it in impossible to list everything. In 2000 she went to Westminster and earned the title of number 1 SBT. In UKC she has earned 10 Super dog titles and a bazillion other titles in: Conformation, Agility, Obedience, Weight Pulling, Carting, Urban Mushing, Lure Coursing, Therapy Dog, Fly Ball, Shutzhund, tracking and more.

Karyn Dawes supported many clubs and served as an officer of many of them as well over the years. She was founder of: San Diego Dog Fancy and Ups and Downs Agility

Member and sometimes an officer of: Rip curl Weight Puller, Hidden Valley Obedience Club, National American Pit Bull Terrier Association, San Diego Dog Fancier, United National Weight Pull Association, Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America, Staffordshire Terrier Club of America, San Diego Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club, Catcher’s on the Fly –flyball Team, Red River Weight Pullers and I am sure there is plenty of clubs we have left out. When it came to supporting clubs, Karyn Dawes was at the top of the list and was always willing to lend a helping hand.

She has left so many people and canines behind but also has left many impressions on people that loved and admire her with her silly memories like her crooked glasses on her tanned California skin to a bumper sticker on that big white van that says, “Powered by Dog Farts” and her infectious laughter and smiles. It is always hard to say good bye but if there is one thing we can be sure of is Karyn Lived Life to the fullest, Laughed as she went along, Loved and touched many and learned and pasted on the education she has learned to leave a brilliant legacy behind.

Next time you see one of them little black pigs (SBT) as she called them running agility or doing some other dog sport, take a minute and think of Karyn for she will never die as long as we remember. With this I want to give you her favorite poem. It reads like this:

A PLACE IN OUR HEARTS
They will not go quietly,
the dogs who’ve shared our lives.
In subtle ways they let us know
their spirit still survives.
Old habits still make us think
we hear a barking at the door.
Or step back when we drop
a tasty morsel on the floor.
Our feet still go around the place
the food dish used to be.
and, sometime, coming home at night,
we miss them terribly.
And although time may bring new friends
and a new food dish to fill,
That one place in our hearts
belongs to them…
and always will.

No Doubt Karyn Dawes has left paw prints in all our hearts. She is now over the rainbow bridge with the great ones that passed before her. We love you Karyn and always will. Until we meet again my dear friend.