CH Rush Hill’s Hakuna Matata OD

In the summer of 2014, I was heading into my senior year of high school and always needing some extra cash. Thankfully, over the years Tonya had been one who always needed an extra hand, so I found myself there often. Within that summer, Tonya was raising a litter for someone, and had two litters herself. One of which she had planned for many years, a Kirby daughter bred to Chaos. This was something she had done the other way a number of times, but the first time she had done it in that direction. I had a special interest in that litter of puppies, which turned out to be the youngest. I watch these puppies grow and flourish as the weeks went by.

When the puppies hit eight weeks old, I was heading home after a long afternoon of work when Tonya asked if I wanted to evaluate the puppies, I gleamed and down to the kennel we ran. As we sifted through the puppies, she grabbed a dark girl puppy, and put it on the table, my body radiated with chills. We continued to sort through puppies, then as I went to head home, Tonya said, What do you think? I replied, They’re beautiful! Tonya then says, Well which one would you take home if you could? I pointed at the stunning little red bitch. Tonya smiled, leaned down, grabbed her and handed her to me, and that’s how the story started.

While I was at school, Megan would be home with her, teaching her how to shake, spin and other tricks. Her first day in the ring at 6 months and 1 day she was Reserve to a 5pt Specialty Major. I was also lucky enough to win my last Best Junior with her at just 10 months of age. She went on to have some nice wins, which was a first from my previous Goldens. The hopes and dreams that I had for this bitch in the ring were slowly coming true. Nala received 12 of her Championship points under breeder judges and finished with a Best of Breed from the classes and a specialty major.

Nala’s biggest success included her favorite activity… Raising puppies. Nala produced 5 Am Champions and Specialty Best of Breed wining kids, as well as Specialty Best of Breed and All Breed Best in Show winning grandkids. With her daughters, Stella and Rita, behind her, she also was the winner of the National Specialty Brood Bitch Class in 2019 and 2021. Although Nala is gone, you can still look into the eyes of her kids and grandkids and see her there. She had a spirit like no other, and often knew what I was thinking before I ever thought it. I’m not sure I will ever have another one as special as my girl, as the love she had for me, I can still feel today. Thank you Tonya for the incredible journey with a once in a lifetime bitch. Forever and always in my heart.

… Christian Rutten