“A year is not much,” said the eyes full of water, Ms. Lallier.
There is not a day when the couple does not think of their dogs. “It was like our children.”
On July 19, 2024, the fire started in the garage annexed to the house. When a neighbor woke up the couple, it was too late.
“All dogs end up leaving, we can tell them bye. There, the two older ones were five years old. They were all young healthy dogs who left in a horrible way. Even today, I don’t take it, ”adds Ms. Lallier.
In the fire, the couple also lost the trophies, medals, bibs, sports equipment and more.
“There was too much suction, I could not enter the garage. So these are images that come back all the time, ”adds Mr. Lusignan, his throat tied.
Friends present and new dogs
Following the tragedy, the couple mentions having lived in relatives and friends for a few months in order to recover and while the construction of the new garage takes place.
“We have friends who have lent us a house so that we can get dogs. But you’re looking for yourself, you’re not well and you’re not at home. We had no routine, nothing. ”
— Sandra Lallier
The final construction of the garage ended in early February.
Three months after the fire, the couple went to get two new puppies since the love of dogs was still present.
“You know, the fire is traumatizing in addition to waking up in the middle of the night and losing everything … So my two dogs, I brought them everywhere. I was unable to leave them alone for two seconds, ”she adds.
On the other hand, a few months before going to get them, the Shefford couple had thought of stopping competitions because, according to them, it is difficult to start again with puppies.
“It takes 18 months before they could compete and at least two to three years before being good,” says Lallier.
The couple nevertheless wanted to continue their sport of bikejoring and canicross So they also went to get adult dogs.
“We went to Europe three times, it was not easy. And this is where we realized that we had sacred good dogs! We had four dogs that performed and four which were already in the top 10 in the world, “laments Mr. Lusignan.
Today, the new family is made up of five new members: Sako, Heaven, Gozen, Marka and Hera. Two more will be added to the fall.
A place of meditation
On the couple’s field, behind the house, they decided to install rocks in memory of their missing dogs.
“This is our monument. We collect ourselves here and we will have a plaque with their names, ”explains Mr. Lusignan.
The couple sits regularly in front to take a moment to think of their pack.
Since the past year, competitions have resumed and life has continued.
“We have friends who lent us dogs. The fire happened in summer, so there were no competitions, but in the fall [2024]we started again. We didn’t have my heart too much, but it did us good and see our friends again, ”said Ms. Lallier.
“We did all the shopping, every weekend for two months. We went to Finland and the European championship too, ”adds Mr. Lusignan.
Not to run with your own dog was a challenge for lovers of the race, since the connection was not there.
“But we like the race!” Yes, there were mistakes, but it was not our dogs. It really did good to run and be in this environment. And that’s when I realized that I really like it, we won’t stop, ”adds Ms. Lallier.
For his part, Mr. Lusignan was fortunate to have the same dog, coming from the Netherlands, throughout the season.
Today, they run with new family members.
The next competitions will take place in the fall and the couple will go to the world championships in Wisconsin (US) and in the Czech Republic, where they will bring two new members to add to their family.
“Perseverance, the motivation of wanting to continue is they [les chiens]who gave them to us. […] It’s more than dogs, we travel with them, we are always with them and it’s a lifestyle. Everything revolves around them, ”said in conclusion Mr. Lusignan.
