After 8 years in the Breed (1979), Sharrah’s first litter experienced tragedy and became the first confirmed case of Canine Parvo virus (CPV) in the Midwest. Parvo emerged as an epidemic and tens of thousands of dogs died world wide.

I worked in cooperation with Cornell University and Dr. Leland Carmichael, the first to isolate the deadly virus in the world. After starting the CPV Research Fund and Campaign, the group raised over $1 million. The killed vaccine hit the market 6-8 months earlier than anticipated. It required frequent dosing, but saved lives. Parvo then migrated from the dog to the human, where the enteric strain showed up in children under age 12.

Professionals and fanciers benefited from 9 articles published in over 250 publications worldwide in laymen's terms. I received over 2,500 phone calls and gave 14 presentations, including to hundreds of veterinarians within an 18 month period. (With only my foundation dog left, Ch. Shangrila Pharaoh Kauravya, I set out to find the only surviving pup, who later became Group Winning Ch. Sharrah's Zhunghatoh).

Dog World Magazine, the largest publication circulated, named the Parvo effort "the most major contribution of the decade" [1980's]. The Afghan Hound Review, the largest single breed circulation at the time, cited the articles as the “best” for 2 straight years.

Beyond the tragedy, I honed presentation skills, went back to college and finished my Bachelors, and found that special boy. Ch. Sharrah's Zhunghatoh. Through the help of local Afghan breeders, Sharrah's Generation #2 blossomed, and 35 years later Generation #7 started. In 2010, at 39 years in the Breed, generation #9 began...