Sadly, I have to report that Wendy Boorer has died. Wendy had been brought up with dogs. Her father kept Bull Terriers and she had owned a variety of dogs throughout her childhood. Wire haired Dachshunds were the start of the Yager kennel of Wendy and her husband Michael followed by Bearded Collies, writes Toni Teasdale
Wendy and I met in 1966 when she started showing her first Beardie, Yager Yealand Christabel, a brown daughter of Ch. Wishanger Cairnbhan, and our friendship blossomed from a common interest in the breed. She had strong views about the role of breed clubs and how they should serve their members; soon she had taken over as Secretary of the Bearded Collie Club and was organising events to bring together exhibitors and pet members. Later she was instrumental in arranging a meeting that led to the formation of the Southern Counties Bearded Collie Club serving on the committee firstly as Editor of their magazine and also Chairman until she moved to the Midlands.
In the early 1970s, Wendy saw a picture of an Affenpinscher in Hutchinsons Dog Encyclopaedia and knowing numbers of this charming breed were dangerously low wanted to import one. She asked me to join her in the venture and Jeni Wiggins and her friend Betty Hargrave were persuaded as well. In 1975 our first Affenpinscher Am. Ch. Balu’s Schwarz Furstin arrived and she went to live with Wendy. Sadly ‘Fanny’ died whelping but her name lived on in Wendy’s newly adopted affix ‘Furstin’. Several imports followed and despite early disasters, the breed is now reasonably established.
Wendy was proud to have won the first CC in Affenpinschers with Last Edition at Furstin whom she and I jointly bred and proud that he became the first Ch. in the breed in 1992 and later Breed Record holder with 19 CCs. Furstin Affenpinschers have been the foundation of several of today’s kennels and many others benefited from her advice. News of the achievements of the final Furstin litter born in March 2008 has given Wendy great pleasure and she was keen that I kept her up to date with what was going on in the Affenpinscher world. Her biggest disappointment of last year was missing Crufts for the first time since she had had show dogs.
Wendy also owned and bred German Spitz and had a wonderful collection of Spitz memorabilia.
To me Wendy was a wonderful friend and a very special person; we indulged our common passion for collecting with Animal Paraphernalia – a trade stand that we took around the Ch. shows from 1970 for 15 years or so; we discussed Affenpinschers, Beardies and dogs in general as well as many other topics over the years. My last couple of conversations with her seemed very chirpy so it was a shock to learn of her death shortly after being admitted to hospital.
Many people will have their own special memories of Wendy and will mourn her passing. Sincere condolences must go to Wendy’s daughter Samantha and her husband Dave and Wendy’s son James and wife Sally.
The funeral is to be held on Monday 18th January at 11.00 a.m. at Holmsford Bridge Crematorium, Dreghorn, Irvine, Scotland KA11 4EF.
Wendy's daughter has written:
Dear Jan and Toni,
I have just spoken with Marie France Vincent of the fundraising department at the Animal Health Trust who has agreed to keep a record of any amounts donated in Wendy's memory so that we can advise people of the total raised.
People wishing to send a donation direct to the Trust should include a letter saying that their donation is in memory of the late Wendy Boorer and, if applicable, should say they are a UK taxpayer and that their donation canbe subject to giftaid (this will give the charity 25% more).
Animal Health Trust
Lanwades Park
Kentford
Newmarket
Suffolk
CB8 7UU
Wendy Boorer has died and all those who knew her will be saddened by the loss of a lovely, talented, educated, kind and generous woman, David Cavill writes
She was an enthusiast for all things 'dog' throughout her life: she wrote dozens of books and articles about dogs, took a canine memorabilia stand around the shows in the 70s and 80s, had a wonderful collection of paintings, sculptures and postcards and was especially interested in Bearded Collies (she was a founder member of the Southern Counties Bearded Collie Club) and Affenpinchers.
I remember her best and most as a practical academic. She had a careful and thoughtful approach to problems and could explain complex issues with a precision which was truly awe-inspiring.
She made a major contribution (along with Pamela Cross Stern, Les Crawley and Peter Larkin) to the development of the Judging and the Dog Breeding Diplomas which were the foundation for the Animal Care College - Wendy was elected its first Fellow. Her lectures to students are still fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of listening to her careful analysis of breeds, breeding and the process of judging.
She will be very greatly missed.
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