Playing Days Behind Her, Woof Is Sent to Pasture

SHEPHERD, half wolf, female, 5 years, very loving, healthy and athletic, Frisbee champion, to good home only. 805-269-1627.

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Woof, the half-breed shepherd, is a canine version of Reggie Jackson. Her glory days behind her, this once-proud Frisbee-catcher has been put on irrevocable waivers, cast aside as a free agent.

It seems that her owners’ roster is already filled, and Woof has to be released. “We raise akitas, “ said Chris Cavanagh, who lives on a three-acre Acton ranch with her husband John. “We have three of them, but the L.A. County animal control people say we can’t keep four dogs, so one of them has to go.”

As the California Angels know, personnel decisions are often based on economic considerations. Akita pups sell for $500 to $700. “They bring us a lot of cash,” Chris said. “Woof doesn’t.”

The Cavanaghs have owned Woof since she was 6 weeks old. Like most athletes, her abilities were evident at a young age.

“She was always a good athlete who always liked to chase things,” Chris said. “She really has a lot of energy and can run forever. One of the hardest things she learned was picking the Frisbee off the ground. She also did back flips and double flips to catch the Frisbee.”

Like Jackson, however, Woof’s skills have diminished. She’s been warming the bench since John Cavanagh took her Frisbees away two years because he felt they were making her neurotic.

“She couldn’t sleep without her three Frisbees,” he said. “During the day she’d leave one at each of the three doors at the house so when we came out we’d play with her. Then at night she collected all three to sleep with them.”

It would seem that a Frisbee champion deserves a better fate. Alpo endorsements, an off-season career on the Kibbles & Bits banquet circuit, her own Frisbee model. . .

“Well, Woof’s not exactly a champion,” Chris admitted. “We only put that in the ad to help give her away. But she certainly could have been one. I’ve seen Frisbee dogs on TV and she could do just as good.”

So Woof’s no Ms. October. “But we really want to find her a good home,” Chris said.