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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-09-09, Page 9Thinking about quitting? CALL THE CANADIAN CANCER SOCIFTY'S TOLL-FREE SMOKERS' HELPLINE 1.877-513-5333 THE COUNTY OF HURON 2004 HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE PROGRAM 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM September 18 Works Yard, 445 Josephine St. Wingham (North Huron) No PCB's, corrit•tprcial, infectious or radioactive waste* will be accepted. For more'information contact the County at 519-524-2188. GET RID OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE CORROSIVE Battery acids Drain cleaners Oven cleaners TOXIC FLAMMABLE Gasoline BBQ starter Solvents REAcTivE Pesticides Rat poison Cleaning Fluids Pool chemicals Ammonia Bleach IN EVERY HOME THERE ARE PRODUCTS THAT NEED SPECIAL CARE. YOU'LL RECOGNIZE THEM BY THESE WARNING SIGNS. The County of Huron Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Program is an opportunity for you to clear potentially dangerous wastes out of your home and dispose of them in an environmentally safe manner. at no cost to you. SERVICES PROVIDED BY HOTZ ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES INC THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2004. PAGE 9. Family goes to the dogs with business Puppy love Ryan Nesbitt, grandson of Randy and Eleanor Babcock cuddles one of the golden labs pups bred at the Babcocks'. Elran Kennels outside Londesborough. (Photo submitted) By Brenda Radford In 1983, Randy and Eleanor (Cook) Babcock purchased the small acreage on Hwy. 4 from the DeWeerd In the intervening years, I noticed changes taking place on the property and to the former chicken barn as I passed by on my way to and from Clinton. When the sign denoting the farm as Elran Kennel went up I realized they were raising dogs. In the more recent past several large runs were put up and travellers of the highway were treated to the sight of their dogs romping in the outdoors. Now my curiosity was really piqued so I asked Randy if I could drop by. Following a serious medical problem in the early 1980s, Randy felt it was time for a lifestyle change. As both he and Eleanor had been raised in this part of Huron County, they decided to come home. Randy's family still lives in the Glencoe/Wardsville area. In 1986, Randy and Eleanor purchased the Grand View Restaurant at the edge of Blyth. Each of them still spends time each day there but the day-to-day operation is handled by their daughters and hired help. Eleanor is still responsible along with the help of her parents for the pies one enjoys there. But their true love and a large part of their time -now is spent in the kennel. In the beginning, the barn housed a variety of animals — some sheep, a horse and two golden retrievers. The couple sold the pups from that first litter and that was the start of Elran Registered Kennel. Since 1983, approximately 1,000 Elran pups have been documented and sold. To date in 2004, 55 pups have found a good home. Randy admits the business of breeding is a learning curve and they are grateful for the help of other breeders. It was Eleanor's love of the breeds that has the couple working with gold retrievers and Labrador retrievers. These are amorrg the top selling breeds of -dogs in both Canada and the United States. Eleanor says the breeds are real people dogs, always friendly and gentle. This was evident when I was taken on a tour of the kennel. The kennel is home to about 30 dogs on a regular basis depending on the number of newborns and the only. noise to be heard the day I was there came from two males vying for the attention of a female. The rest of the dogs were just quietly interested in getting some attention from their owners and the stranger. Randy noted that the kennel is washed down by a system of hoses every couple of days and the floors are heated in the winter. That day, in the nursery at the front of the barn, Bridget was nursing her litter of 11 golden pups — an average litter size is eight. In two other pens were a litter of five and eight Lab pups being weaned from their mother in anticipation of adoption. The Babcocks don't feel a need to advertise their kennel locally any more but are listed in breeders' magazines and they have a website — www.elran-kennels.on.ca A large number of pups already have owners from all over North America when they are born. Elran babies live as close as Summerhill and as far away as Istanbul, Turkey. Some folks have adopted more than once from Elran Kennel. The pups leave the Babcocks' kennel when they are six weeks old and Randy and Eleanor counsel their owners about the pups' training. They advise puppy classes and obedience training. The puppy's new owners receive a file with the dog containing its medical history, the history of its parents, registration information and a guarantee from the kennel. By then the puppy will have been checked by the Blyth Veterinarian Clinic to certify its hips and eyes, has been de-wormed, had its shots and been implanted with a micro chip. New parents also sign a waiver stating they will not breed this pup for resale. When I visited, the maternity ward was being readied for a new litter. Expectant females are moved to a pen there a short time before their due date and monitored by camera. Randy admits to sleeping on-a couch in- the house or in the kennel office where he can watch the mother more closely and be on hand to help if necessary. The pick of a litter is kept by Randy and Eleanor for breeding purposes. Females are retired from breeding at age six or seven. Males are not used as long to keep the blood lines pure. The services of a good breeding male are bought from other breeders from time to time. The normal life span of a dog is 12 - 14 years. Female dogs no longer used for breeding are given to good homes. Male dogs are sold. Pups with health defects, such as hip dysplasia or poor eyes are given away as well. All prospective owners of a dog from the kennel are screened. A vet visits every three months to monitor the health of the dogs in the kennel and once a year administers their shots. Elran Kennel has donated five Labs and one golden retriever dog to guide dog schools in Oakville and Breslau. Stud service has also been arranged with the schools. The personality of Labrador and golden retrievers makes them most suitable for use as guide By BRENDA RADFORD Call 523-4296 What a wonderful last week of summer weather we've been enjoying. Its arrival finally has us regretting the warmth and sunny skies we missed earlier and at its end will have us pining for next May. If you have dropped by the Village Corner Café in the last few weeks you'll have noticed new owners. If, - like myself, you had no idea the business was for sale it comes as a surprise. Tom and Gloria McKay turned over ownership early in August to Steven and Joanne Bromley of the Belgrave area. The folks of Londesborough wish you well in this new venture, Steven and Joanne. Steven continues to work for the county and Joanne will operate the restaurant. Drop by and say welcome to these new owners. On Saturday, Aug. 21, children, grandchildren and great- dogs for the blind and as special needs dogs for other disabilities. The Babcocks admit that it has taken a few years and some mistakes to own dogs that are perfect for breeding and for the kennel to have achieved a good reputation among breeders and buyers. Therefore they take every precaution to maintain that reputation and to ensure there are no genetic problems down the road. Eleanor says her reward for the time and care they give their dogs comes when she sits on her deck and can watch these beautiful dogs romp and playing knowing others, too, are enjoying her "babies". Always close at hand to share her love for Elran Kennel is Victoria, a lovely golden retriever, who is the family pet and lives in their home. grandchildren of Helen Lee gathered in Stratford to help her celebrate her 80th birthday. They enjoyed sharing memories and laughter over dinner at the Arden Park Hotel. Congratulations and best wishes from the village, Helen. Appreciation Day at Camp Menesetung is Sept. 19. You are invited to worship at 11 a.m. led by Trish Heidebrecht. Lunch will be served between 12 and 1 p.m. followed by program, presentations and fellowship. The Londesborough UCW is looking for someone(s) to attend and represent them there that day. To volunteer and/or for more information contact Brenda at 523- 4296. The board of stewards of Londesorough United Church will hold its annual pork roast supper at the Londesborough Community Hall on Saturday, Sept. 18 from 5 - 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Youth five to 12 eat for $5 while under five are free. The Londesborough UCW would like to borrow an old copy of The Farmers' Almanac. If you have one please contact Laura Scott or Barb Bosman. The Londesborough United Church senior choir will practise at 10 a.m. on Sept. 12 and 19. FROV LONDESBORO As part of some renovating in the Sunday School room, the UCW would like to install a handrail next to the ramp inside the original entranceway. If anyone has something suitable to donate for this project, please contact Laura Scott or Brenda Radford. Sunday school at Londesborough -United will begin on Sunday, Sept. 12. As summer unofficially comes to an end and regular church affairs resume and the youth go back to classes, Rev. Pat Cook's message at Londesborough United Church on Sunday, Sept. 5 was appropriately titled, New Beginnings. Scripture passages that morning were Jeremiah 18: 1-11, Psalm 139 and Luke 14: 25-33. Bonnie Jewitt offered the ministry of music for the service.