Our Beloved Friend, John Kavanagh

John Kavanagh, of Kingsmark Collies, was a very dear friend. During our 26 year friendship we shared much laughter and a passion for Collies. Whether at our home, John's home, or the dog shows, when we all got together there was plenty of fun and surprises. Among our favorite memories is the time John took us on a wild horseback ride in the Arizona mountains in the rain to explore ancient Indian sites. We also loved the day we took John and his family behind the scenes at the San Diego Zoo, where a sea lion caught John off guard and gave him a kiss. We shared many dinners and countless hours of conversation. We obtained many Collies from John and bred some of our Collies to his. No one in the Collie world knew us better than John did.

This year John asked us to spend the day with him at the Collie Club National Specialty and so we drove up from San Diego to meet him. We were privileged to have the entire day alone with John and to share our thoughts. John was a true and precious friend. He was also a highly respected and accomplished Collie breeder. John made Collies a better breed and he made the world a better place.

Sharon, Jack, and Jacquelynn Vanderlip
Rainshade Collies