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| Tommy and Stephen Lassiter |
****Special Note****
On February 14, 2006, Maxine- the backbone of Power Train Kennel, and more importantly,
our lives-passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly. It was and still is the saddest time in our lives. We miss her terribly
and not an hour passes that we are not reminded of her. Her presence is everywhere, and her impact on our lives will stay
with us forever. Everything on this site and in our foxhunting experience is dedicated to her. Thank you Mama- for always
being there. We love you and hope we make you proud.
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Tommy Lassiter started foxhunting as a young boy. In those
days hunters could sit around a campfire while the dogs ran all night, sometimes going out of hearing but soon returning as
the fox circled. There were sometimes complaints when they got after "that old red" because he would take them cross country.
They preferred grays so the race would stay within earshot most of the night. There weren't any deer to worry about, and not
as many people around building houses in prime foxhunting territory.
A lot has changed now-some for the good, while some of the old ways have
been lost. The enclosed fox pen has become increasingly popular. The safety of the hounds and hunters has increased, as has
participation in the sport. Regular Saturday night "pleasure hunts" can still be had around the fire, but without the burden
of riding the roads and missing half the race due to unlimited acres to run. In a pen, the dogs WILL circle back eventually!
Fox pens have also added to the popularity of competition field trials.
And that is where Power Train Kennel concentrates it's efforts. Remembering what he'd learned about hounds from "the old days"
Tommy uses his experience to promote an aggressive breeding and training program which enables Power Train to be a competitor
in these field trials. He has taught his son Stephen to recognize the qualities a good hound should have. Through thousands
of hours in the woods he also has come to know what those old timers long ago knew-you have to have the right stuff to run
a fox like he ought to be run.
A lot of paperwork and other knowledge is a must in this outfit, and
that's where Tommy's wife and Stephen's mother, Maxine comes in. She ensures that each puppy receives it's shots on schedule,
and keeps records of the tattos, birthdates, sell dates, breeding dates, field trial dates and individual results, and many
more important statistics necessary to run an efficient operation. When you buy a puppy from Power Train Kennel, you receive
a folder containing it's life history, so you know it's been taken care of the best way humanly possible.
Maxine also has a knack for helping small puppies in need. There are
several stories about her efforts to save the ones in trouble. Once, she found one neck deep in a water bucket. The pup should
have been too small to get in there, but there she was. She was very weak and cold so Maxine took her in the house and warmed
her up and made her eat. The pup lived in the house for over a week until she was fully recovered. She even rode in the car
whenever Maxine went somewhere! Now the pup has returned to her littermates, as strong and healthy as the rest of them. Maxine
makes several trips a day to the puppy pens, ensuring everyone is safe. She has had to bring in several whole litters from
time to time for various reasons, bottle feeding them until they could eat on their own. This is a full time job! Maxine calls
it a labor of love.
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| A view of some of the larger pens |
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