Summer 2023 Season Patch

Description

Summer 2023

Dog: Jinx (2012 – 2023)
of Joliet, Illinois member Stephanie, Zdunek

Season Champ: Levis, Quebec

Complete Season Results

SUMMER 2023 PATCH REMEMBERS JINX and
ALL DOGS WHO CROSSED THE RAINBOW BRIDGE

This season’s patch honors Stephanie Zdunek’s beloved border collie Jinx, one of the co-founding Teams of the Joliet, Illinois League Club, and pays tribute to all our Frisbee dogs who wait on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge to play with us once again.

Jinx came into Steph’s life as a small 8-week-old pup. After losing her first Border Collie, she had been wanting to add another dog. Jinx met his brother Brooks who was already a veteran disc dog. Jinx became obsessed with disc rather quickly and was catching a disc at only a few months old. He was a quick study, but Steph is a great trainer.

The bond between these two became much more solidified when his brother crossed the rainbow bridge much earlier in life that he should have. Brooks encountered a fungus that attacked his airways and just could not recover. Jinx helped his mom grieve this loss and kept her busy with his need to keep moving.

Jinx was the type of dog that became a mentor to other dogs that needed to feel comfortable. With his calm demeanor he helped his mom rescue Radar, a Dutch Shepherd / Malinois mix, who really needed his gentle soul to help him come out of his shell. These two both played in league together and loved every minute of it.

Steph’s philosophy of disc dogging was inspiring, “I am not here to win metals or place. I am simply here for my boys. All I care about is that they are having fun.” You could always tell that not only were Jinx and Radar having fun, but they all had fun together. Jinx did win a lot of medals and ribbons with Steph, but everyone knew that was not their focus.

Steph was always ready to jump in and help at events. She is one of the founding members of the Midwest Disc Dog Club.

Steph has spread the joy of this sport by showcasing her incredible boys and demonstrating how much fun this sport is even if you do not wind up on the podium. So many people forget that this is all about our dogs until it is too late. Thankfully Jinx had 11.5 years of pure enjoyment before he was struck down with cancer. Jinx was sidelined from league for nearly a year for miscellaneous injuries, but his health deteriorated quickly. Sadly, we lost one of the great dogs of this sport. He was a true ambassador of K9 Frisbee.

This season, toss a disc for Jinx in remembrance of all the dogs who touched our hearts.