Thank you USCA Judge Don Yelle
This evening members of the EB and the Judges Committee received the below email from Piedmont Schutzhund Club. Thank you Richard Shook for taking the time to acknowledge one of our judges, Don Yelle. USCA feels very lucky, proud and greatful to have people like Don representing USCA.
I am writing in reference to the IGP trial at Piedmont SchH Club on April 6th and 7th, 2019.
As most of you know, PSC is a very large club with diverse membership, in both dogs and people. At this particular trial, canine participants included German Shepherd Dogs, Malinois, Rottweilers, American Bulldogs, and one Cane Corso. Human participants ranged in age from 7 years old; my daughter Annabelle Shook, to 77 years old; long time member Rita Turner. The situation I am referencing involves Rita Turner.
Rita has titled many German Shepherd Dogs over the years. In the late 80’s titling many dogs to SchH3 and more recently dogs in IPO and this weekend her first dog to IGP1. Many would consider Rita elderly, but she drives over an hour to the PSC training grounds twice a week to train her beloved dog Elsa. PSC members offer to help Rita with training, but she likes to do most things herself. Independence is important for her. I was skeptical about Rita entering the trial, but Rita was confident she and Elsa would pass.
Approximately a year ago, I messaged USCA judge Don Yelle, and asked if he would come to Claremont, NC and judge an IGP trial for PSC. Our spring trial is the first weekend in April as this is best opportunity for superb tracking conditions. Don agreed. I had very little interaction with Don before this weekend.
Don’s passion for IGP, German Shepherd Dogs, and USCA was evident from the time I picked him up at the airport. But, his interaction with Rita was what made this trial special. Rita was scheduled to track Saturday morning. Don helped her to her designated tracking area. He waited patiently for her to lay the track. When it was her turn to track, he was very patient as she and her dog negotiated the track. Her dog made mistakes, but finished the track. Rita and Elsa passed tracking.
Rita was scheduled for obedience and protection on Sunday morning. Don personally carried a chair across the field so Rita would have a place to sit during the long down. Please find attached a photo of Don assisting Rita to her dog for the pick-up after the go-ahead-and-down exercise. Grown men had to turn and walk away from the field as their eyes welled witnessing this amazing act of kindness. Rita and Elsa passed obedience.
Elsa was Elsa during protection. The guarding wasn’t the best, but Elsa bites hard and takes the stick with no problems. Rita and Elsa passed protection.
USCA should be proud to have a judge like Don Yelle. He went above and beyond in this situation. Many judges, American and European, would have dealt with this situation differently. His compassion and kindness for his fellow human being was something to see. He had never met Rita. He may never see her again. He may never see many of us at PSC again, so there was no reason to try to impress any one. His interaction with Rita was truly genuine. It is often said that people view the judge as the face of the organization. I, for one, think this is true. Don Yelle is the type of person we want representing USCA.