Ch. Chelsea's Kentucky Blues
1986-1998

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1986-1999

Ch. Jewelbox Gem O'Erie
1999-2002

Ch. Chelsea's Memphis Blues
1986- 2002

   The speech below, "Eulogy of the Dog," by George G. Vest, was written well over 100 years 
ago, when life was mostly agrarian, and herding dogs were indispensable to farmers in managing sheep, cattle, etc.  Occasionally, masters and /or their dogs ran afoul of the law.  
   This speech may have figured in such an occasion, as it seems to have been the delivery of 
a summing-up speech by defense councel to an actual jury. 
    At any rate, we hope its eloquence will bring some measure of comfort to anyone visiting 
this page who has had to endure the loss of a beloved dog.     

                          EULOGY of the DOG
                                                                   by
                                                George G. Vest  [1830-1904]

     Gentlemen of the jury, the best friend a man has in this world may turn against him 
and become his enemy. His son or daughter whom he has reared with loving care may 
prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us--those whom we trust with 
our happiness and our good name--may become traitors to their faith. The money that a 
man has he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. 

     A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people 
who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the 
first to throw the stone of  malice when failure settles its clouds upon our heads. The one 
absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world--the one that never 
deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous--is his dog.

     Gentlemen of the jury, a man's dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health 
and sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow 
drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no 
food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness 
of the world.  He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince.  When all 
other friends desert, he remains. 

     When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces he is as constant in his love as 
the sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in 
the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of 
accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies. 

     And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace, and 
his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, 
there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes 
sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death.