Behind the Rainbow Bridge

No longer by my side, but always in my heart!

My first two dogs weren't Bracchi, but the Beagles set many things in motion that define me today. They will forever remain in my heart, and someday there will certainly be Beagles here again, because just like the Bracco, the Beagle is a very special dog.

Kira (Vara from the offer)

25.05.2005  - 26.04.2021

Kira was my first dog and I deliberately chose a Beagle.

The deciding factor was actually Captain Archer's beagle, Porthos. The first captain of the Enterprise. Before getting one, I naturally researched the beagle breed extensively, read many books, and met beagles and their owners. Finally, I was certain: it had to be a beagle. And her name would be Kira.

Kira was my mentor in many areas and also the reason why I pursued further training to become a dog trainer. With her, I did clicker training, agility, and learned tricks.

She was a very special little dog and, apart from the normal ailments of old age, was fit and agile until shortly before her death.

Flanna (Interim's Lady Flanna Farnham)

24.04.2007 - 14.08.2021

No two Beagles are the same, and since they are pack hounds, Flanna came into our lives as Kira's companion two years later. Flanna had a very strong hunting instinct, which is why I started mantrailing with her in 2008.

I worked with her for many years until 2015 as a search and rescue dog handler and trainer. We had a wonderful time together and many successes. To this day, I am still very proud of what she accomplished. Unfortunately, due to differences, we had to leave the search and rescue dog team shortly before she was certified for deployment. She was my mentor in mantrailing. She was the pack leader (even of the "big" dogs) and a very charismatic dog.

In the last two years of her life, she suffered from kidney failure, but was otherwise still fit. Her death came so unexpectedly that I still haven't gotten over it.