Rainbow Bridge:  Ice the Standard Schnauzer

Ch Charisma Isis Von Diable, better known as Ice by those that loved her, left this world for her next journey on Saturday, April 8th. 
 
Ice was born July 23rd, 2004, and the time from there until January 4th, 2016 are a little unknown.  What is known is Ice was a Champion confirmation dog from a line of beautiful dogs.  She had puppies, we knew that.  But it is unknown how many decedents of hers still live on to carry her legacy.  Ice was given to a man who promised to continue her line of champions, and continue to hold the standard schnauzer breed to a higher standard, but unfortunately what became of Ice was far from a champion’s retirement.  Her and 3 other dogs were turned it what can only be described as a mini puppy mill.  By the time Ice was rescued from SROMN she was thin, muscle wasted, had difficulty walking from being kenneled, urine and feces scalded, and had several patches of hair missing from malnutrition.  She also had severe dental disease with fractured teeth.  Ice had previously had a radical mastectomy to remove one chain of mammary glands due to tumors, but had not been spayed.  When she was spayed upon arrival, she had tumors on her other mammary gland.  They were removed and found to not be cancer.
 
Shortly after Ice came to use, at the age of 11-1/2 years old, she found her foster, who would shortly become the most loving home she’d ever known.  Julie and Barry welcomed the senior schnauzer into their home, along with their 14 year old mini Sunny.  It didn’t take long for Ice’s loving personality to win them over!  Ice had a way of bringing her big wet noise up to you, making you rub her head, and in turn you instantly fell in love with her.  Ice’s lameness improved as she moved more.  She played with toys.  She laid on soft beds.  She chewed on bones.  For what was likely the first time in a long time, or her life, Ice had a really great life!  She was loved more than words could describe by her parents, she didn’t lack for anything, and she was truly happy.  Ice enjoyed the summer of 2016 as a free dog in a loving home, taking in the sunshine.  Ice had her first family Thanksgiving.  Ice had her first family Christmas.  Ice was loved.  She was so loved.
 
Little did we know that her next mammary tumor would be actually turn out to be cancer.  In October/November 2016 Ice had it removed, and it was diagnosed as cancer.  Mammary cancer grows slow, and spreads slowly, so there was hope that it hadn’t spread and surgery was curative.  Unfortunately, in March 2017 Ice began to fall ill.  It was suspected that the cancer had spread, and was now throughout her body.
 
Ice will not be remembered for her championship title, or the number of times she entered the show ring.  She will instead be remembered forever as the dog who could steal your heart with her sweet personality and just one look from those big brown eyes and for the unconditional love she gave her mom and dad for the time she spent with them!
 
Rest well Ice, you will be missed more than you ever thought possible!