After many years of not having dogs my husband & I decided to get a dog so I'd have an excuse for walking more often.  I bought a male pet Siberian puppy, Rishik, from Deanna and Lou Gray.  After a short period of time we decided he needed a friend, and a friend of mine who was showing dogs convinced me to get a show prospect.  After checking around I talked to Robert and Jo Ann Pawlowski of Chelleset Siberians and bought my first show bitch, Chelleset's Lady Cassiopeia, Cassie.  Cassie is basically from Innisfree lines with a little Marlytuk thrown in for good luck.

Our kennel name is V-Star because when I first starting naming my dogs they all had star or constellation names.  I've since branched off and starting naming my dogs from other sources but the V-Star name stuck.  After some learning experiences with additional show prospect purchases, I bought my first champion, Ch Kivalina's Icarus.  Ike came to live with us as an eight week old puppy and changed our lives -- he was quite a handful. Ike was an excellent stud dog for us for several years, giving me what I wanted from the his lines.  He sired three champions for me, Ch V-Star's Atlas Pleiades, Ch V-Star's Vampire Slayer & Amer/Int'l Ch V-Star's Crystal Shadow, CGC.

Dot (Ch V-Star's Tseen She) proved to be a tremendous help in our breeding program.  Dot's dam (Ch Cato's Me and My Shadow) traveled back east to be bred to Vinnie (Ch Rockland's Starr Attraction).  Dot has been a wonderful brood bitch.  Out of five litters she has ten champions (Ch V-Star's Jazz Singer, Ch V-Star's Raven's Delight, Ch V-Star's Copper Penny, Ch V-Star's Heat O'The Night, Ch V-Star's The Sky's The Limit, Ch V-Star's Rave On! & Ch V-Star's Shadow in the Forrest, Ch V-Star-Miortok's Mona Lisa, & Ch V-Star Miortok's Stella Mira, Ch V-Star-Miortok's Xanthippe).  To date, 2009, I have 25 champions that I have bred and/or own.  I'm very proud of the dogs and their accomplishments.  Our latest champion is Ch V-Star's Last Chance who finished at 9 months of age with a breed win over specials and a Best Puppy in Show under his belt.  Chance's brother Hunter (V-Star's Last Hurrah) is looking for his last major and 2 pts.  Also, there are three puppies from a litter that Chance sired that are in show homes (one in Mexico).

We are a very small kennel not having more than 10-14 animals at a time in our care.  I've retired from showing and breeding and as of 2009 we only have 3 dogs at the house.  I will miss going to shows and having Siberian babies to play with but my age dictates a change.  I will always remember with fondness all the good times.

I love Siberians and find them to be lovable, rambunctious, mischievous and thoroughly delightful animals.  They can get into trouble but when they come over and give you a kiss it's hard to stay angry at them.  I give each of them plenty of love and attention, and they thrive on it.

My main interest is in the conformation ring.  Conformation fits my life style and personality better so that's where my interest lies at this time.  I love to steward at dog shows and whenever the opportunity presents, I help.  I've served as secretary and board member on several dog clubs, including breed and all-breed clubs.  I'm a member of and the past Historian for the Siberian Husky Club of America and past member of the Siberian Husky Club of Metropolitan Dallas.

My main concern is with the breed improvement of my dogs to better fit the standard and improve their health through a more natural diet. I believe everyone not involved in a serious way with the breed should not be breeding.  I have spent many, many hours reading about the breed and working on pedigrees.  I have spent the last 16 years gathering information on pedigrees of approximately 110,000 dogs.  The database always needs attention, to update entries and add new dogs.

I also believe that all dogs used in breeding should be OFA'd (checked for hip dysplasia), SHOR'D or CERF'D (for juvenile cataracts, corneal dystrophy and any other eye anomaly) and have had a recent brucellosis test.  The bitches should be at least 2 years of age and in excellent health and in most cases only bred once a year.  I sell all my pet puppies on a spay/neuter contract and limited registration.  The only puppies sold on full registration are to show homes.  I also like having all my dogs microchipped because I feel this is a good form of identification in case they escape from home.

My family and I live at Elgin, TX (east of Austin) on six acres in a wooded rural setting.  Our dogs have their own air conditioned house which they enjoy immensely.  They are outside in play yards in the mornings and evening and are in the house during the hot afternoon hours.

In conclusion, I wouldn't change the breed we chose 23 years ago.  They are everything I'd ever want in a dog, independent, loving and as natural a breed as you can get.  The Siberian Husky is a wonderful dog if you have the patience and endurance to live with their enthusiastic zest for life.  The joy of caring for them has added years to my life.