Page 24 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2025 - Online Magazine

LOCAL LEGENDS

began in 1980 when she attended a dog show at the Civic “Sherell and Zoey have been dedicated
Center after hearing about it on the radio. After that, she volunteers at UMC Health System for the past
was hooked. Members of the Heart of the Plains Kennel 10 years, bringing comfort and joy to both
Club and South Plains Obedience Training Club were patients and staff. Zoey, a gentle giant, never
happy to mentor her, which resulted in many Chow fails to bring smiles to everyone she meets.
Chow and Bouvier des Flandres conformation champions Their presence is truly a gift, and we are
and titles in obedience, rally, scent work, agility, carting, incredibly grateful to have them as part of our
freestyle, and trick dog. (Ed. note: The official term for dog volunteer family.”
shows is conformation—as in, the act of conforming. Dogs are
not compared to each other; they’re measured by how closely Julie Dominguez—Director of Volunteer &
they conform to the standard of their particular breed.) Guest Services | Seniors Are Special

Sherell’s dogs have also achieved national recognition. She
trained the first and second Best in Show Chow Chows to
ever earn an AKC obedience title. Zoey, her Bouvier des
Flandres, is a six-time Performance Top Twenty honoree
by the American Bouvier des Flandres Club. Many of “Sherell is one of the hardest working people
her Chow Chows and Bouvier des Flandres have been I've ever met. While working at a difficult job,
registered therapy dogs. Zoey (and Sherell) have also she has been a board member for both Lubbock
volunteered for ten years at UMC Hospital pediatric unit, clubs, as the Publicity and Public Education Chair,
Texas Tech University Library “Dog Days of Finals” and all while training her Bouviers and Chow Chows
many other philanthropic events. to Obedience, Rally, Agility, and Scent Work titles.
She is the current Obedience Sub-Committee
Sherell’s success is attributable to hard work, dedication, Chair and former board member for the National
commitment, and love for both people and dogs—and the American Bouvier des Flandres Club. Being a friend
discovery of a latent gift inside her that she discovered of Sherell's for the last many years has been my
serendipitously one weekend at a dog show in 1980. And privilege and pleasure. She is an inspiration to us
now that gift is a treasure that she shares freely with the all.”
world around her.
Dana Brown— President of the Heart of the Plains
Kennel Club and South Plains Obedience Training
Club of Lubbock

24 Lubbock Senior Link