It is with sadness that we must relay Bob's senseless death. He was the son of Willem and Emily. We are all in shock and disbelief. He was such a fun loving puppy. I say puppy because although he was 90 pounds, he was only 20 months old. He loved to race through the woods and swim across his pond in summer. In the winter, he playfully raced through the snowdrifts.

Bob had just earned his Canine Good Citizenship award at the Michigan Bouvier Specialty in November 2002. The other day we were discussing Bob's spring and summer training and the shows he would do. Although shown very little, Bob already had earned his UKC Championship and was in 9th place in the United Kennel Club Top Ten Ratings for 2002. He traveled well and made both dog and people friends wherever he went.

We will miss his mischievous and clownish personality, which is why this is so difficult to believe. Someone would have had to really provoke Bob. He was not trained for guard work but protected his home merely on instinct. He had a pet door available right behind where he was stabbed near the kitchen door. But he chose to stand and defend. Originally our kennel was founded because our home was burglarized in 1969.

We are so grateful that our good friends didn't arrive home as the intruders were leaving with those guns. The story might have been even more gruesome. How could anyone kill an animal using a butcher knife? James and Lillian Vaness have increased the reward to $3500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the intruder who murdered Bob, a beloved member of their family.

~ Judith Allen

Update Article - "Suspect Arrested"

St. Clair County Sheriff Department officials are investigating a 27-year-old Port Huron man who's believed to be responsible for breaking into numerous homes in the county the past several months. During a January 16 burglary in Clyde Township, police believe the suspect also fatally stabbed a homeowner's dog -- an act that may result in further charges. Joseph Lopiccolo of 2622 Susan Court in Port Huron was arraigned Thursday before St. Clair County District Judge Richard A. Cooley Jr. on four charges, including home invasion and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges stem from a Wednesday incident, when, police said, Lopiccolo was caught in the act of robbing a home on Bartel Road in Columbus Township. If convicted, Lopiccolo faces up to 22 years in prison. A preliminary exam has been scheduled for March 5 in district court in Marine City. Sheriff Detective Lt. Mike Bloomfield said officers are reviewing about 40 burglaries to see how many Lopiccolo may have committed. The investigation is expected to be completed by next week, when more charges against Lopiccolo may be filed. "We are looking at his activities as far back as November to see if there is any correlation between his whereabouts and daytime breaking and enterings," Bloomfield said. Lopiccolo is free from the St. Clair County Jail in Port Huron on $15,000 bond. Originally published Friday, February 21, 2003