Birthdate:  3/17/2009 - 6/1/2022
Owned by: Shannon Bridwell & Lindsay Thorne (L-Wynd Ibizans)
Bred by: Lindsay Thorne (L-Wynd Ibizans)

This has taken me a while to process and compose. Today was the first morning in 11 years that I woke up without Nova greeting me. We said goodbye to him yesterday and our hearts are broken. Nova was 13-years-old.

I don't think I could have asked for a better first Ibizan Hound than Nova. Now my house is full of beezers thanks to him. Nova was the sweetest, happiest, most YAY dog that I have ever known. He was the OG "life is YAY" practitioner. Also known as Nobie Nose, Nober, Nobie, and Nobie-Wan-Kenobi, he was my sweet goober shadow boy. When he was young he was full of himself but as he aged he turned into the most sugary sweet marshmallow boy. He was a big-time kisser and bathed my face in kisses everyday. He almost always had a toy in his mouth (usually purple platypus or, at the end, giant fuzzy ball) and pranced proudly with it. He was always right by my side.

He was loved by every dog in our house, especially puppies. He was Delilah's best friend for most of her life and she misses him very much. Aziza is devastated. She's looked up to him since she came home as a puppy and, though he found her annoying for a while, she finally won him over. They snuggled every night. Nova was patient with the other dogs, and let them snuggle him and flop on top of him. He was a super well-behaved boy who followed the house rules and was completely trustworthy loose in the house. Nova didn't believe in the naughty beezer stereotype. He did believe in the barking beezer one though, and, while he was not my biggest barker, he joined in every song and always let us know when he saw somebody or something exciting.

Nova and I tried a variety of things during his life. He came home at two-years-old and together we explored lure coursing, straight racing, and conformation. Walking and hiking with him was a constant activity, and he was a royal hound with the Hounds of East Fairhaven for many seasons and events. We also did 5ks. He was always with me and followed me from room to room like a shadow. He always made me feel safe and put on his best guard dog impression when we traveled. When I walked him at night he was on full alert and actually warded off a shady man who got too close at one of the cheap motels we stayed at. He kept watch all night at my window to make sure that guy didn't come back around.

Nova loved couches, patrolling the yard, and stuffed toys, especially purple platypus. He loved that toy so much that I combed eBay for replacements to make sure he always had some. He was a simple dog: he loved snuggles, kisses, outside time, walks, free running, chasing fake bunnies, and toys.

Nova was a big, beautiful, strong, fast boy and it was incredibly tough watching his body betray him and fail as he aged. When he was young and strong he ran with the other dogs and kept his wilder half-brother in line. He loved Finn, and Finn loved him. I find some comfort in thinking that he and Finn have been reunited and are running free and wild together again.

I am so grateful to Lindsey for taking a chance on a Greyhound person and letting him come to live with us at 2-years-old. I am grateful to Marissa for bringing him to SC to live with us all those years ago. Thank you to everyone that has loved Nova and contributed to his happiness, health, and well-being. We loved him so much and are truly missing him.



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Nova was a Group 3 winner in a puppy match at just 4 months old. He is major-pointed. Nova loathes showing so he was retired because we care more about our dogs than titles. Nova is certified to run ASFA lure coursing and is a Qualified Courser in AKC. He loves chasing the "bunny"! He is also the first Ibizan Hound to ever be a member of the Hounds of East Fairhaven. 

Nova is the first Ibizan Hound to ever achieve the TCP title in ASFA. This requires the same placements and points as an ASFA field championship title and he had to beat many dogs to earn it. He ran in singles for part of his career while we worked through some grumbliness with other boys. There were many tears shed the day he got to run with his littermate in competition.  He earned his SC as a senior in veterans.  

Nova can be summed up in one catchphrase: "Life is YAY!". He is a very sweet, goofy, comical, snuggly, happy dog. He had a journey to make when he came to us, and it was long, but when he got to his destination it was very special. He is a natural hunter and spends the majority of his day looking for prey. He's a fantastic mouser and wants to try barn hunting in the near future. Everybody loves Nova in the house and he has matured into quite the marshmallow that loves everyone.