 It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you of the passing of a very dear friend and a bastion of the Bouvier des Flandres community. Claire McLean left this earth at 1:38 this morning. As for many of us, we owe our love of the magnificent Bouvier to her. Through her mentoring and persistence, Claire taught us the joy of Conformation and the hard work it takes to earn a Championship in the breed ring.
Claire’s love of dogs extended beyond the Bouvier des Flandres to the Portuguese Waterdogs and even to the White House. She was the official “Groomer” for President Ronald Reagan and Nancy’s Bouvier, Lucky. This inspired Claire to develop the Presidential Pet Museum in 1996, giving Claire a place to let others enjoy her collection of memorabilia.
Claire authored several books extolling the Bouvier breed. As the owner of Deewal Kennels, she bred scores of dogs who would grow up to be champions and pass on their award-winning traits to generations of Bouviers. She was also a driving force behind the GWBdFC in the early years.
I, for one, will deeply miss Claire’s enthusiasm for dog shows, her clapping for the winners, her in-depth knowledge of the breed and her passion for life. We all will miss Claire McLean.
Claire’s family asked me to extend an invitation to join them for a Celebration of Claire’s Life at her daughter’s home in Shady Side, Maryland on November 23rd. Please email me at mike@dcbouvier.org for more information.
Michael Barlous
President
Greater Washington Bouvier des Flandres Club |
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