DCh El-Aur Royal Dragon SC, FCh

DCh El-Aur Royal Dragon FCh, SC aka B.J.

7/5/97 - 2/26/09

BJ was a remarkable dog. He was one of 8 pups born to Ch Arborcrest Danae FCh, SC, UD and Ch El-Aur Remember Royaltan SC and was bred by Laurel Drew, El-Aur Greyhounds. Rob & I had known Laurel for not quite 2 years when the litter was born. Even so, she entrusted us with two pups from this particular litter: BJ & Spoof. In fact, BJ was Spoof's "replacement" for the show ring because Spoof never developed into a show quality dog.

A day or two before we were to pick up BJ at age 14-16 wks, he had an accident at Laurel's which resulted in a distal end fracture of the femur. In other words, he broke his femur at the stifle joint. Laurel called and offered to replace him with any other puppy, including any of the bitch puppies, because it was "doubtful he'll ever finish a breed ring title, let alone a lure coursing title." During his months of restricted exercise he had to have two surgeries. The first one was to fix the fracture using screws and the 2nd was to remove the screws that his body was rejecting. Poor puppy!

The years, 1999 and 2000, were momentous for BJ. He took his first points in the breed ring on Feb 2 and in April, he ran on the lure for the first time. Up until the day that BJ took his first points in the breed ring, Feb 2, 1999, Laurel offered to replace him with another dog. She never believed he would be competitive in the breed ring up until that time. But on Feb 19, 2000, BJ officially became Ch El-Aur Royal Dragon SC. Two months later, on Apr 2, 2000, he finished his AKC lure coursing title and his dual championship. He exceeded all expectations. He did everything which was asked of him and he did it in style!

BJ suffered a career ending injury one day on a ranch somewhere in New Mexico when he took off on a jackrabbit. The jack ducked down into an arroyo and BJ did not have enough running room to either hurdle the arroyo or turn to avoid it. He tried to turn but the laws of physics would not be denied and he went crashing into the arroyo at 35 mph. I thought he was dead. Before I could get to the arroyo, he climbed out of it, but it had cost him. His pelvis was broken in two places and he injured his neck. BJ's running days were over. The vet who pieced him back together, Dr. Frank Coons, commented, "His injury was very much like what we see in dogs that have been hit by a car. (pause) Well, if you think about it, he was running as fast as a car. It makes sense." BJ was retired. His running days were over.

The boy always chafed at retirement. He knew he could do more than I would allow him. He bounded back from two very bad bone fractures and other miscellaneous difficulties. However the coursing injuries would haunt him the remainder of his life until one day, he could not stand. That was the day he continued with his journey and went over the bridge. That was the day my heart was rent in two and today is the first time I could even face writing about my boy. God speed your journey, BJ. You are missed.