When Pam Dickson's young partner in philanthropy, the handsome and brilliant young German Shepherd, Rocky II, whom she had trained lovingly, dashed after a squirrel and hurt himself so badly he had to give up his performing career, she almost decided to conclude her charitable work for children and those less fortunate in the Northern Virginia area. "It was a devastating moment when he fell," she said. I hand walked him to avoid surgery, and got him completely well, but I just thought performing might be too much for him. I decided not to take a chance, to let him live a relaxed country life and to look for a new puppy."

"I looked everywhere," she said sadly. "There were many long drives in wet, windy weather only to find a dog that simply didn't have the character I needed in a partner."

She wasn't looking for much. Her new puppy had to have a marvelous temperament. He had to be beautiful, charming, kind, calm and patient. He had to have a great personality and he had to love children. He had to love to be patted and hugged. And, he had to be completely, 100% trustworthy. Prized characteristics by almost anyone looking for a partner.

"They have to be big boned," Pam continued. "They must have good hips and stand squarely on all four feet. It's very difficult to find a puppy with these characteristics, but when one also demands all the others and the temperament to really enjoy what they will be trained to do, its almost impossible."

Had Pam not found a new puppy, it would have been an enormous loss for the citizens of the Middleburg area, hundreds of homeless, ill and orphaned children, and patients under care in hospitals and other facilities in every corner of the region. The children who relish visiting Dickson's Fursman Kennels near Middleburg, Virginia for parties and charming performances by her trained canine partners would enjoy the fun no more, and Pam's arrival in hospital rooms with an exceptionally charming, intelligent furry guest would, sadly, cease.

Over the past 33 years, Dickson has raised tens of thousands of dollars for charities by organizing and participating in benefits and activities of all kinds. Her German Shepherds are known and recognized far and wide for their skills, patience and trusting natures. They've starred in feature films as well as in visits to homes for mentally and emotionally challenged children.

So, one wintry day, Pam called a friend who lives on the other side of Winchester to ask if she knew of any litters of German shepherd puppies in the area. Her friend did know of just such a litter being raised by a young family on the other side of Woodstock.

"I telephoned the breeder and she said she had only one puppy left. He was three and a half months old. It was right after Christmas so I asked why he hadn't been sold during the holidays. Something must be wrong with him, or he would certainly not have been left."

Assured that the puppy was sound and worth seeing, Pam had trouble deciding to make another drive. Once again, it was pouring with rain and the promise of an unsuccessful trip with a sad drive home was not encouraging.

"But I knew that, if I didn't go, I would always wonder if I'd missed the perfect puppy," she said.

When she arrived in the Woodstock area, a young mother of five greeted her at the door and Pam could see the puppy's parents on the other side of an indoor gate. "Not one bark greeted me," Pam said with obvious pleasure. Even though the puppy had eight brothers and sisters who had already gone to good homes, he was waiting for Pam. She named him Young Treasure and she is absolutely confident that he will follow successfully in the footsteps of her previous philanthropic partners.

Young Treasure is the puppy you see pictured on the cover of this month's Eccentric. As Pam says proudly, he has all the markings of a brilliant dog. Coming from someone what was the first person to bring canine agility courses to the Middleburg area, and who has trained dozens of puppies and dogs on these courses as part of her Fursman Kennel services, this is high praise indeed.

Please note that a German shepherd's ears do not stand up as a young puppy. It is not unusual for one ear to stand up while the other is flopped over to the side, or, both ears may flop over. Young Treasure is only five and a half months old. His ears will not be fully erect until he is at least six months old and he won't be fully trained for performances until he's approximately two year old.

Treasure III may be the luckiest puppy on the planet. He follows the path set by Pam's first German shepherd, Rocky, and the four German shepherds who followed him, Treasure Chest, Treasure Junior and Rocky II. He shares a beautiful, bucolic country home with many rescued animals who look so well tended and happy in their pastures and on the rolling hills that its hard to imagine them as sad, unloved donkeys and horses who had no future at all.

Working with Pam, its certain he'll be trained lovingly. Agility training takes months of persistence, rewards and lots of patience and love.

"In order to be trained properly, he must be well relaxed and cared for in both mind and body," Pam says. "And, most importantly, he must have fun while he's learning."

"He'll learn to work on the lead and play nicely for hours every day. He'll learn to save someone who's drowning and to find someone who is lost. He won't be expected to perform for some time, but he will demonstrate what he's learned in his training at a party we've planned for local children in September.

"I'm so glad I found him," Pam says. "I couldn't do anything without my dogs and my generous Middleburg friends."

If you would like to help Pam Dickson raise funds for her many charitable activities, you may send your contribution to Pam Dickson, P.O. Box 625, Middleburg, VA 20118.