2021 Inductee – “Vince”

Owner/Handler: Ron Buisman
759 Champion Points
Legendary Status Champion
37x Champion
4 Super Major Championships
1 Major Championships

I found a shovel in the shed and slowly walked over to where my training field met the woods. There beneath a pine tree, I began to dig. The ground was very dry and because I had a heavy heart, breaks were frequent. It didn’t seem fair to be there, alone, digging a hole for my best friend.
It also did not seem that long ago, that we had decided to keep a puppy from his father, Lambeau, who was soon to retire. When the litter arrived there was a super sweet little guy that would climb onto your lap and fall asleep. Sheri loved him dearly. There was also a more aggressive pup who wore a green color, that she and the grandkids nicknamed “Mean Joe Green”. Ron was convinced this pup would become as great as his sire. I will leave it up to you to decide who became VINCE.
Vince was a solid, focused, determined and sometimes stubborn dog. Training went fairly smoothly, but it was the introduction to live birds that set him on fire. It was plain to see that this is what Vince was born to do. Thank heavens I was in just good enough shape to keep up to him. For when he got a nose full of birds, well DAMN. It got so that some judges would warn us even before I had put shells in the gun.

Vince was a National Champion and 5 time Nationals and Worlds runner up. He was also Dog of the Year finalist twice and had many other titles and credentials. During his last full year of competing, he won 5 major and super major tournaments. He reached Legendary status early in the BDC. When Vince was only 5 ½ years old, we notice some slight sensory disability which turned out to be a brain tumor. At his young age and because of our love for him and his loyalty we decided he deserved a chance to be with us longer. We went ahead with surgery and radiation.

He spent 2 months at the University of Madison Veterinary Hospital recuperating. Every weekend we would drive to pick him up and return him again by Monday morning for his week of therapy. He did not walk on his own for over 100 days. He taught us so much about grace and patience during this time. There was no doubt Vince would have accomplished much more in the tournament hunting world if he had not gotten ill. It was almost 4 more years that we got to spend with Vince, after his tumor was discovered, and we wouldn’t have changed a thing.

When he passed away, the sense of loss was unfathomable and all I can imagine is that heaven needed a hero. We would like to thank all of you very much for the thoughtful recognition here tonight. The greatest part of the healing is that we are able to continue his legacy with Willie our 5 month old pup.

These special dogs teach us all much about life, like taking appreciation in going for a long walk in the woods, to living each day with optimism and joy and above all to love everyone and appreciate what life has given you.

Today, March 11,2021 Vince enters the BDC Hall of Fame as a Legendary Status Dog with 37 Championships, 759 career Championship Points, 4 Super Major wins and 1 Major win. Vince, if love could have saved you, you would have lived forever my friend. We will never forget you.