The Magnificent Mutts in Motion By Nancy Chauncey
You may have seen them rolling out mats to perform at NBA halftimes or flying over hurdles at local Pet Adopt- athons. Mutts in Motion is the Valley’s own flyball organi- zation and always draws an enthusiastic crowd.
Flyball is a relay race for dogs you just have to see to be- lieve! Two teams of four dogs each race over four hurdles down parallel lanes of a 51 foot course, to trigger a spring loaded flyball box and catch a tennis ball. As each dog dashes back down the lane and across the finish line to their exuberant handler, the next dog is on its way. The first team to successfully finish their race – WINS!
When watching this loud, energetic and exciting sport, you may wonder what kind of dog can be trained to do flyball. According to 25-year flyball trainer, Lavada Mont- gomery, “Big dogs, little dogs, purebreds, and mystery mixes, the sport has no bounds. In competitions, the jump height is set based on the shortest dog on the team, so varied sizes and breeds of dogs can all play together.”
Mutts in Motion is a non-profit organization dedicated to being a model of responsible pet ownership. More than half of its furry members are rescues and many are mixed breeds. “Keeping them healthy, giving them proper vet- erinary care and taking time to play with our pets is first and foremost,“ says Bethany Goble, who just rescued her 3rd “future” flyball dog. Cisco, a border collie, was found abandoned in a Fresno ponding basin. “We hope that, by doing public appearances with our ‘muttly’ crew, we can show the community how enriching it is to provide a bet- ter life for a rescued pet.”
Virginia Kammer enjoys flyball with her rescued shepherd mix, Giggsy. He loves to play the sport and seems oblivi- ous to the fact he only has one eye. Virginia spends much of her free time rescuing and adopting pets. “When I res- cued Fuzzy from an abandoned home, she was in horrible condition. The poor dog was skin and bones with virtually no hair on her flea-infested body” says Virginia. Now, a year later, Fuzzy, lives up to her name! She is happy in her forever home with Virginia and her menagerie of adopted pets, looking forward to her flyball training sessions.
The mantra of Mutts in Motion is family pets first, flyball dogs second. “These dogs are just furry family members that we hang out on the couch with at home. Flyball pro- vides extra bonding with your dog, and keeps their minds stimulated and their bodies healthier,” says dog trainer and vet technician Michele Evans.
When the teams are lined up ready to race and you see the wags in their tails and hear the joy in their barks, there is no doubt these mighty mutts LOVE the game of flyball.
To learn more about Mutts in Motion and “Meet their Mutts” visit
www.muttsinmotion.com. Contact Events Coordinator, Carol Cullers at 559-930-9808 if you would like the Mutts to provide an exciting performance for your next local event or fundraiser.
Nancy Chauncey is one of the founding members of Mutts in Motion, with her three dogs, Toby, Casey and Finn. Her first flyball dog, Toby, is a rescued Aussie Labra- dor Dalmatian. In her canine career she has done halftime performances on the 49er football field, is a six-time over- all champion of the CCSPCA Canine Classic and a certified therapy dog visiting seniors at a local care facility. Now, recently retired from the sport at age thirteen, Toby still enjoys an active life on their ranch in the Sierra foothills. Casey and Finn, both Border Collies age ten and three, continue to keep the “ball rolling” doing flyball competi- tions, performances and fundraisers throughout the west- ern states teaming up with the other Magnificent Mutts.
Photos provided by
www.rickdoddphotography.com FSM September / October 2010 7
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