Scout Chessler, 2006- 2023

I am saddened to tell you that Scout Chessler, age 16 years and 3 months, went to his final rest on September 6, 2023. He had been in decline for some time. Already blind, he had lost hearing, struggled with arthritis, and mostly likely Cushing's. His world had dimmed,but he still loved to sniff, eat, and wander about. But on September 6th, he couldn't get up on his feet, and we knew it was the end.

Scout had been part of the Chessler household since June 6, 2007 when we adopted him from the Helen Woodward Animal Center when he was a year old. An Australian cattle dog, with a touch of Ausutralian shepherd and maybe some terrier, he was fiesty from the start.

Sunny, our placid German Shephard/Golden Retriever, who outweighed him by fifteen pounds, tolerated Scout's herding instinct, as Scout nipped at Sunny's heels. Until she didn't. One day we discovered Sunny had had enough and bit Scout on the ear. A few stitches later, Scout ceased his herding ways. Scout was always a smart dog, even when he didn't obey. Case in point. Despite obedience training in 2008, he landed in dog jail in 2009 after he ran away. (Full story below from our 2009 Chessler holiday newsletter.)

He was very protective and devoted to his human family. When Benjamin first returned from college, there was the ten minute love fest from Scout as Benjamin was greeted at the door.

Later in life, around 2013, glaucoma took his eyesight. While we still lived in San Diego, he managed our house and trips to the local park with aplomb, as if he could still see. No bumping into furniture, no need for a leash on the way to the park. When we moved to the Bay Area, he told us in his own doggy way he was not happy with us, but he adapted here as well.

Now we have set aside his doggie bowl, his water bowl, his leash. We are glad he no longer suffers, but his absence is sharp. Should there be a dog heaven, we hope his is young, healthy, fully sighted, and herding dogs and sheep.

Scout Spends Night in Slammer (2009) Scout Chessler, an excitable Australian cattledog with large brown eyes, was apprehended by animal control on the night of August 7, 2009 somewhere in the Kearny Mesa area, after arriving at Dor Hadash synagogue for a blessing of the animals. Steven Chessler said: “I turned around and he was just gone.” The Chesslers’ nanny Soheila Cast, with her usual can-to attitude, set off to find the errant pup. She hailed down a cop and determined Scout was SAFE, but had not escaped the long arm of the law. Scout was sentenced to spend the night in the dog slammer with other canine perps. A chastised pup was bailed out the next morning. Though it is may be too soon to tell, Scout seems to be fully rehabilitated and does not venture far anymore.