The Legacy of Amacris Outside Chance
1992-2006
Written by Becky Wolfe
January 2006
In the early morning hours of a bitter December day,
the Idaho blizzard was raging on the outside
the wind howling through
everything that tried to move
and the snow was thick as a white blanket.
Inside the walls of a toasty warm house,
the wonder of birth was happening,
as a young mother was having her first litter of pups.
Though no one knew of the miracle that would happen later,
touching lives that night and for years to come.
Now Zipper was busy delivering her pups but needed to take a
break outside in the winter weather.
Soon after coming back inside she delivered her last pup,
at least that is what everyone thought.
Quickly after the birth of that pup she was scratching at the door to go outside,
who would want to go out in that blizzard with sideways snow?
but Zipper insisted on going outside with every fiber and sound
in her young and furry body.
Through the blast of the cold air the door was opened
and Zipper was out in a flash.
Though she was back just as quickly
but she had something with her.
Was it a forgotten frozen toy that she decided she needed for some strange reason
or was it a frozen cow chip that wasn’t allowed in the house.
Now she was told to leave her find outside
but she insisted on bringing her find inside with her.
Once inside it was clear that it was a frozen puppy with the afterbirth attached
the strong instincts of a young mother saved that little puppy’s life
but also a miracle of a different kind was happening that morning.
Now it was thought that the little puppy was frozen to death
and needed to be taken care of before the kids awoke.
As the puppy was being lowered into the trash bag
there was a slight movement.
Those same hands took the frozen body and gently started massaging it under
the warm water in the kitchen sink.
The dark hours of the early morning had turned into a new day,
the sun was coming up
and the kids were wandering into the living room.
Excitement and amazement shown brightly in their eyes and voices
as they looked at all the puppies surrounding Zipper.
Then the room fell silent as there was a noise from the kitchen….
What was making that sound?
Soon the questioning eyes of a young girl were searching
for an answer from her mother
Wondering if there was another puppy still to come.
All eyes glued on the form of a small new puppy as her dad came into the room.
It was if the earth came to a stand still as the
eyes of a young girl focused on that puppy.
It was as if that puppy was the most important thing in the room to that child,
it didn’t matter that there was a room full of other puppies.
Time stood still ……………
as that puppy captured the heart and soul of that young girl.
it was as if they were meant for each other on that cold Idaho morning.
No one would know the bond that happened at that moment
nor could predict the depth of it as the years went by.
Now that puppy had an “Outside Chance” of surviving that night,
but she must have known in her little puppy soul that she was
needed in that little girl’s life but also for many others.
As the days went by that little puppy grew stronger
but also only had eyes for that young girl, Amanda.
This bond only grew between the two as the months went by
and as they worked at learning the steps to a dance that would last a lifetime.
Soon the next winter blew into Idaho and Amanda was eager to show her mother the steps of this dance that they had been working on.
Now you have to know that the ground was covered with snow,
but Amanda and Chance were excited to show their stuff….
to show off how good Chance was-----even without equipment
So looking at the snow covered yard littered with firewood,
one had to wonder what might happen.
But soon Amanda was sending this eager dog through a whole course made of firewood.
A run that involved jumps, outs, switches, and contact equipment
That is except for an a-frame.
At the end of the run, both Chance and Amanda were beaming with pride and excitement.
The cold months of the winter didn’t limit the opportunities that
these two worked together at perfecting their dance steps
both with equipment and in daily life.
Later that year this young team
made their mark on the agility world.
Everyone stopped and watched this team conquer the courses with ease and grace
the connection between the two could be seen as they maneuvered through the courses that weekend,
except when the young pup lost her focus on the job at hand
and became interesting in her siblings playing.
Though as the years went by there would be nothing that could break
that connection in this team on the field or in life.
They were each others best friend as they traveled the country,
found adventures on the field and in life,
had magical times together
inspired others
gave the meaning to flow and motion
had fun in every moment of the day together
as Chance had kisses that fell on Amanda’s face like soft falling rain,
the trusting eyes of a devoted friend
the times that you curled up together on the couch.
Throughout all of the moments of life,
this team taught us about agility but more importantly about life.
As a team they helped show the agility community
about flow, discrimination, distance and fun on a course.
Help shaping the foundation of the NADAC philosophy and direction
at that point and for years to come.
As this consistent team took tough courses and ran them
as if they were taking a walk in the park,
they racked up the titles, awards, records, recognitions, and honors
that became too numerous to keep track of through the years.
Though they stand for different things to a variety of people,
nothing could compare to the moments that this team
stepped onto a course and ran together
nor the lessons they learned along the way
the smiles that beamed from their faces at the end of the run
nor the lessons taught to others along the way through the years.
Now the fall of 2005 brought discouraging news to this team
and the agility community,
as Chance was diagnosed with cancer.
It was a heartbreaking blow to this team,
but Chance came fighting into this world and was not ready to leave just yet.
She gave her all as she battled the evil stuff in her body,
but more importantly she showed the true spirit of a friend,
a teammate, a teacher, a smile on hard days, and a true lifetime companion.
Though her physical body has gone to a better place her spirit remains with us through
the agility courses and trials we run,
the priceless memories she left with us,
the agility community she touched,
the smiles she shared,
the medical community she taught,
and the countless future agility dogs she will touch.
So “Outside Chance” came fighting into this world with every fiber of her soul
and left with that same fighting spirit.
Though she left a living legacy in the NADAC agility community,
the countless lives she touched through the years,
the Nelson family
and more importantly in her soul mate found in Amanda.
