Rin Tin Tin's Friends and Memorial Page

A Story by Lou Ann Metz

It is with the deepest saddness that I report that Rin Tin Tin's Kyra Lilly lost her battle with cancer on December 30, 2008. Lilly was graciously donated by Miss Daphne Hereford, owner of the Rin Tin Tin lineage on September 10, 2001 and became a certified Human Remains Detection Dog with Summit Search and Rescue Dogs in Ohio on March 12, 2003. Lilly trained and worked throughout the US and Canada.

She worked missing persons cases and also worked with several Native American tribes, assisting them in the location of the boundaries of their burial grounds so that the grounds could be protected under the native American Grave Protection Act.

She was also used to assist historical societies and cemetery associations in confirming burials where markers never existed or had been destroyed over the years.

Many times markers that had fallen over and were covered with years of dust and vegetation were uncovered during restoration projects. She had a great nose, keen intelligence and an amazing work ethic.

She was a great representative of the Rin Tin Tin heritage; always a lady in the public.

She flew in cabin on more than 40 commercial air flights. Often times the other passengers would not even know that she was there until time to disembark. Many flight attendants remarked they "would take a whole cabin full of dogs like that." She turned heads wherever she went with her striking beauty and impeccable manners.

On August 15, 2002, Lilly became a Delta Society certified Pet Partner. She served as a member of Love on A Leash at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna, Ohio. She brought much joy to many of the patients that she visited.

One woman shared her last breath of life with Lilly when she passed away during our visit. The family later said that Lilly gave their mother the thing she loved the most; a wagging tail and a doggie kiss. They said that they were so happy that Lilly was there with their mom when she passed away. She was intuitive and compassionate.

I think the job she loved the most was being my ever faithful companion.

She taught me about love, loyalty and the importance of giving of yourself to help others for nothing more than the pure joy it brings.

No matter what time of the day or night duty called, she always answered and worked tirelessly until the job was done and then she would celebrate with a victory lap and some frisbee.

She was my once in a lifetime dog and the greatest gift I could have ever received. I am richer for the experience. Thanks, Rin VIII, Joann and Miss Hereford.

Lou Ann Metz

A Story by David Fritsche

Our family lived in Bloomington, California, just North of Riverside. My Father was an animal lover and a Pastor. Our family and the church group frequented Fairmont Park in Riverside where we would rent electric boats, fish, B-B-Q and in general have fun.
Although I enjoyed the times together, I would most often absent myself from the family or group and walk to the east end on the park to Rin Tin Tin Kennels and watch the dogs.

My grandfather had a lovely German Shepherd that I dearly loved, and I was committed to have one of my own as soon as I could afford it. When I reached the ripe old age of 15 years, a friend of Dad's, who owned a music store, asked if I would be interested in working for him. I jumped at the chance and cleaned the building and repaired instruments for the gracious wage I earned.
I spent none of it, saving it all in my dresser.
Dad was sure I was saving for my sixteenth birthday when I would be able to get a drivers license and a car. But, when he asked me what kind of car I was looking to buy, I surprised him by saying that I was not saving for a car, but for a dog - a Rin Tin Tin progeny.

Finally the day came when I had enough money and was not yet 16, so Dad took me over the the Kennel after calling Mr. Duncan. My Duncan had seen me hanging around the kennel and had come to talk to me and invited me in to see the dogs and handle them.
He assured me that when I was ready he would see that I got a good one. I suppose I have never been as excited by anything as much as that event. I had watched all the episodes of Rin Tin Tin on TV and here I was, merging my hero worship of this dog with the reality of my childhood dream.

Mr. Duncan was so gracious, and I suspected that he set a price that was within my budget rather than what was the usual price, but I was not too proud to quibble. I accepted his graciousness with excitement and thanks.
After some time of looking and touching and playing, one little girl kept getting on my lap, and she never got off, until old age took her from me.
Heidi (what else can you name a German Shepherd female in those days?) came home with me and set the stage for over 50 years of breeding and showing German Shepherd Dogs, working as a K-9 officer for a neighboring Police Department and in general following a childhood dream that was begun with Rin Tin Tin.

David Fritsche

This is Zebre, the favorite cat friend of Rin VIII. They pair grew up together and were born 6 months apart in 1994.she will celebrate her 15th birthday this year.

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