Remembering Tom

Snug Pet Resort, So Cal Working Dog Association, and the entire Schutzhund community, have lost a dear friend and mentor. Tom Riche, 46, Dog Trainer for Snug Pet Resort and the Training Director for So Cal Working Dog Association, passed away the evening of December 10, 2009. Tom suffered a fatal heart attack while working his dog on the club training field. Tom leaves behind his wife, Kristi Riche, and his two beautiful children—Kyler, age 8, and Taylor, age 3.

A fund has been created to help Kristi and the children. Please send donations to:

San Diego County Credit Union 150 East Valley Parkway, Escondido, CA 92025

The account number is: 3733735-00

For the time being, the account is in the name of Tom Riche Family Fund—C/O Teresa Cowart.

Tom was many things to many people. He was a loving husband and father. He was a valued friend, teacher and an amazing dog trainer. He had a profound talent that could never be duplicated. Tom had overcome many obstacles in his life and truly inspired those around him. He will be missed terribly by his family, friends, colleagues, clients and four legged friends.

Forever In Our Hearts.

Please feel free to share with us how Tom touched your lives.

4 Responses

Titan & Strumwasser Family says:

December 14, 2009 at 8:38 pm

Tom was an incredible man, he was able to turn around our people aggressive dog Titan. Titan has many odd traits and Tom worked through each one of them. He taught Titan that he could trust people and he taught us to understand and love Titan for who he was. Titan is great a dog now. But Titan had the easy job of following the teachings of his awesome mentor/trainer. Tom was his guiding light, standing in Tom’s huge shadow greatness always made Titan and our family appreciate the simple things in life. Tom was full of kindness and truly a loving and giving man. He would always talk so proudly about his wife and kids, we feel like we have known them for years even though we have never met. Tom had a passion for what he did and his family and kids should be proud of how many dogs Tom turned around, how many families he brought happiness to, and how many lives he left a such a huge paw print on. It is never easy to understand why things happen when they happen, but for the last year and half that we have known Tom, we truly feel honored to have had this short time with him. He taught us so much, and we only wish we could have given back half of the goodness he had gave to us. We love you Tom. We miss you!