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October 14, 2008

Dog fulfills her dying owner’s dream and becomes agility champ

By Robert Barron, Staff Writer

Ropa is a champion.

The dying wish of her owner, the late Lisa Booze, was fulfilled Sunday morning during American Kennel Club agility competition at the Sooner State Kennel Club Dog Show, at the Chisholm Trail Expo Center.

Ropa, a registered Australian shepherd, was owned by Booze and competed in agility competition in a number of AKC events. When Booze died of cancer, she told her friends of her desire for Ropa to become a Master Agility Champion, the highest level of American Kennel Club agility competition.

Her friends formed Team Ropa and began taking the dog to meets, where she was handled by Booze’s longtime friend, Sharon Clark of Tulsa.

Ropa entered the weekend competition needing only 15 points to accomplish the goal. Vicki Boyer, another of Booze’s friends, said Ropa got four points Friday, six points Saturday and the final five points Sunday morning.

“Everybody cheered,” she said.

Booze’s family was present for the event, including her mother, brothers, children and grandchildren. Her father was too ill to attend, however.

“She eked away the points,” Boyer said.

Ropa will retire now. The family plans for her to become a pet and stay home with her “dad.”

She’s earned it.

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