| In
1962 Ron Hevener read Lad: a Dog, the classic Albert
Payson Terhune story of the beloved Collies of Sunnybank.
He knew he wanted a Collie puppy.
Within days of his wish the Pennsylvania
resident found a male, sable and white puppy, just like
the legendary Lad, listed in the local paper. “I
took this as a sign,” Hevener remembers. The Collie
was offered for sale by Jacqueline M. Kauffman of Lochranza
Kennels in Manheim and had American Kennel Club (AKC)
registration papers. “That was a very big deal
back then,” he recalled. “I paid Miss Kauffman
$35.00 and named the puppy Shawn.” At 12 years
old, holding that first puppy in his arms, Hevener could
not imagine how a life with this faithful breed would
bring him full circle.
Since then, the well-known artist, author,
and singer’s life has been filled with many memorable
people and animals, but his friendship with Kauffman
and her Collies would create an enduring legacy.
Given the times, Hevener’s choice
of dogs was not unique. For decades, generations had
grown up with a Collie in their lives. Originally the
breed gained popularity in the middle of the 19th century
when it became a particular favorite of Queen Victoria
while she was visiting Scotland’s Balmoral castle.
In Great Britain, with the Queen’s influence,
this common herding dog moved from cold wind-swept sheep
pastures to a warm stone beside a fiery hearth. The
century old story of the breed’s devotion started
when the Collie began to share its master’s home.
At first the Collie was slow to attract
attention in the United States. But in 1919 the popularity
of the breed soared with the publication of Terhune’s
irresistible stories about his loyal dog, Lad. Then,
in 1938, native Yorkshireman and one-time Pennsylvania
resident Eric Knight wrote the heroic tale “Lassie
Come-Home.” Knight’s poignant account of
a devoted Collie’s perilous trek through all of
Scotland to return to her beloved “Joe”
forever sealed the breed’s status as a faithful
companion and courageous shepherd of children. Animal
lovers ever since have been enthralled with the books,
and subsequent movies and television shows depicting
the noble herding dog that hailed from the rugged Scottish
hills.
As worldwide appreciation for these gentle
dogs grew, a central Pennsylvania woman named Jacqueline
Kauffman was carefully selecting her Collies from around
the country to ensure bloodlines worthy of the show
kennel she was creating. Kauffman clearly knew the breed’s
royal history and named her kennel for a private retreat
of the Scottish Monarchy. Lochranza Kennels, located
on a quiet corner beside a towering Victorian home in
the small town of Manheim, would eventually become one
of the oldest, continuous operating show kennels in
the United States.
At the same time, not far from Kauffman’s
home, animals - both live and inanimate - were becoming
an important part of Ron Hevener’s life. As a
child Hevener began creating small clay figurines of
the dogs he loved. He was self-taught and had an appealing
knack for capturing the character of the sculpted animals,
which he started to sell to local tourists for 50 cents
each. Later his clients included Boscov’s and
Watt & Shand department stores. He created reclining,
aloof German Shepherd Dogs, mischievous Jack Russell
Terriers, benevolent English Setters, and of course,
sweet-tempered Collies.
His skill at depicting various breeds in
characteristic poses was attracting attention from dog
fanciers who started collecting his work. Today his
collectable figurines, watercolor prints, and fine sculptures
are found in the homes of animal lovers and art collectors
around the world. Some original “Heveners”
were actually handed out in Red Square when the Soviet
Union fell and residents scrambled for American artifacts.
His figurines have also found their way onto Ebay and
“The Antiques Roadshow.”
Kim
J. Young
Mt. Wolf, Pennsylvania
Email: [email protected] / Phone: (717) 266-4898 |
