10/16/2025
Goodbye C**t!
We lost another great one today. C**t passed away this morning, lying peacefully near a pond during one of his favorite walks around the property, a place he loved and knew so well.
C**t lived a remarkable 13 years, filled with loyalty, drive, and heart. He was not only a QAA (Qualified All-Age), MH (Master Hunter) and MNH (Master National Hall of Fame) retriever but was also one of the finest dogs we’ve ever had the honor of training and calling family here at Zion Kennels. In limited competition, C**t earned 28 Master passes with only three failures. A true testament to his consistency, intelligence, and unwavering desire to please.
But C**t’s greatest legacy wasn’t in ribbons or titles. It was in the lessons he taught and the lives he touched here at Zion Kennels. He was an exceptional teacher, guiding hundreds of people in dog training, from first-time handlers to seasoned competitors. He had a way of inspiring everyone around him, especially the young ones. My daughter Olivia earned her very first Junior pass running C**t in Idaho, and it was his patience and heart that made that possible. He also introduced retriever training and what retrievers can do to hundreds of kids at Career days at local schools.
C**t wasn’t just a great retriever; he was a friend, a mentor, and a reminder of why we do what we do. His paw prints are forever etched on our hearts and across the fields and ponds he loved so much.
Rest easy, buddy. Keep Pops company in Heaven. I know he was happy to see you and give you lovin’ this morning! I can hear him call in right now in my head!
You gave us your all. We’ll carry your spirit with us in every dog we train and every retrieve we make.
Run free, C**t. You’ll never be forgotten.
