The herding community suffered a devastating loss on December 10, 2024 with the sudden passing of Janet Lynn Leach (“Lynn”).
Lynn was instrumental in starting the CKC herding program. In 2021, Lynn was awarded the inaugural CKC Heritage Award for her outstanding contribution and dedication to herding.
In the 1990s Lynn gave up her job as a realtor and started giving herding lessons and teaching clinics. Working stockdogs was her passion and she made it into a career, dedicating her life to teaching and mentoring others in utilizing their dogs on both the farm and competing in herding trials.
During her journey, Lynn traveled across North America, Australia, and Europe to give herding clinics, seminars and judge herding trials. She was an invaluable mentor, teacher and role model for hundreds of people from all around the world that were interested in herding with their dogs. She made many friends and helped so many people over the years.
In the early 2000s she started the training program at the Vancouver Airport to utilize dogs to clear birds off the runways and flight paths. Her program was a huge success and the dogs and handlers she trained are still making it safe for the millions of travelers who fly in and out of the airport today.
Lynn's legacy will continue through all those that she mentored. Our condolences to her family members, her "herding family" and the herding community. It was an excellent run Lynn, one that we all will remember whenever we open that take pen gate.
- Jen Seaborn
Photos credits: Michelle Gillis