Kilroy was my first Champion homebred Kees from my first litter. [My name use to be Taylor, thus the "Van Tayl" name.] He stood out from the pack from the time he was a baby.

He went through many changes with me, including my abusive first husband, and my struggle to get on my own in my own house. Together we got through all the challenges. It made us both stronger & more determined than ever to make it.

In 1986, I almost lost my beloved boy when he decided to chase a rabbit up on the busy street I lived on at the time, and was hit in the head and rear by a car. I took him to Ohio State University Vet school where they checked him over thoroughly. For a while Kilroy had a limp due to a spinal injury. He was lucky and so was I.

Through the years, Kilroy has helped me raise all of the A*starz dogs. He is very good with puppies and visiting kees of all ages. When he'd had enough, he let them know, which is as it should be.

He turned 14 years of age 1/97 and he was still going strong up until March. He couldn't see or hear as good as he use to, but he did have a 1997 New Years Resolution (which he was not able to attain) ... to attend the KCA National Specialty in May and participate in Veteran's Obedience!!! If he had made it to the National, and you were fortunate to attend and watch my old dog, you would have seen one very happy fellow! He may not have qualified, but he would have been the one with that special twinkle in his cloudy eyes and a slight smirk on his face! Kilory loved to be with us traveling, no matter where we went. He had his select spot on the bench seat of our van.

In March Kilroy started seizuring with the last day preceded by an evening of very bad episodes. I had to make the decision to end his pain on April 3, 1997. We were with him through his final journey and were there when his spirit left his old body. I was with him to catch his brand new baby body when he was born and it was only right that I be with him when it was his time to go.

I'm sure my boy had the twinkle and smirk as he watched over all of us from above in May '97 at the National. We miss him every day and know he is watching all that goes on at A*starz ....
My favorite picture of my boy

A true dutch barge dog (on a boat)!

This page is maintained by Donna Stekli, last updated 05/08/2000

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