"Sera"
Berrystock April Fool (UK import)
Eng. Ch. Brystaff Simply The Best
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Eng. Ch. Baysend Mystical Secret
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Born June 2002. Passed 2012
L-2 HGA Affected ***Details below.
"Sera" is short for "Seraphim," the highest order of angels. Perhaps an ironic name to describe this little imp, but meet her just once and you will notice something heavenly about her personality.
Sera came home with me from a trip I had taken to the UK in 2002. I had researched many bloodlines after my "Voo Doo" bitch was spayed, and decided upon my #1 choice being a bitch pup from Eng. Ch. Baysend Mystical Secret. I had seen her on a previous visit to the UK, and was most impressed. Fortune befriended me when I found out about her mating to Eng. Ch. Brystaff Simply The Best, an extremely good producing stud dog who, in my opinion has worked out magnificently well when put to a variety of good quality bitches.
"SERA" (Pictured on Left@ 2 months)
"BRAMBLE" ( Mother: Eng. Ch. Baysend Mystical Secret)
Sera was shown at The 2003 Potomac Club Specialty weekend.
From the puppy class (10 months old) she went:
Reserve Winners Bitch two of the three days
Best of Breed Puppy
These wins were under UK breed experts Mr. Danny Gilmour and Mr. Malcolm Boam.
***Sera was spayed at one year of age due to her being diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder known as L-2 Hydroxyglutaric Aciduria. She was the 14th Stafford in the world, and the first in the United States to be diagnosed with the disease commonly called "Wobbly Dog Syndrome." She has shown only minor physical symptoms but her mental symptoms (depression, mood swings [with the other dogs, never with people] and slight developmental impairment) are apparent. The disease is known to be genetic in nature. Therefore, we immediately decided that she would never be bred. She is still loved just the same, and is our "very special" girl.
It must be noted that there was no way of predicting Sera's condition. Her breeders would have never produced this litter if there was any indication that this might happen. They are to be commended for the responsible actions they have taken as a result of unfortunate circumstance.
L-2 HGA can now be tested for via a DNA test through the Animal Health Trust and now in the United States through the University of Missouri!!!
For more information on L-2 HGA see the following links:
http://www.caninegeneticdiseases.net/DNAtests/TESTSnow.htm
http://medicine.ucsd.edu/vet_neuromuscular/cases/2001/nov01.html
http://www.aht.org.uk/sci_randd_neurologyfaq.html
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/lesley.mcfadyen/lesley.mcfadyen/breed_concerns.htm