We learned of Gary Albino’s passing when we received an email from a good friend of his, Dayle Moden, telling us that Gary’s wife Carol had chosen Toby’s Foundation as the charity to receive donations in his memory in lieu of flowers. Memorial gifts immediately started coming in. We are deeply touched and humbled by the trust placed in us and by the generosity of so many. We thank his wife, Carol, and his family for choosing Toby's Foundation. The day will come when we have a screening test and Gary will have been part of the healing and the solution.

We thought our supporters would like to learn more about Gary, someone who made a difference and still is.



Gary Albino
February 11, 1946 – November 30, 2007

Gary was born in San Diego and was married for 40 years to Carol Albino. He is survived by his wife, Carol, his daughter Darcy Albino Attig, Darcy’s husband Ron and two grandchildren, Troy Justin and Haley Lynn. Gary was preceded in death by his son, Justin Dawson. One sister, Margie Kurz resides in Roseville, California.

Throughout Gary’s life he has been active in horse groups, 4H, Little League and various dog clubs. When his children were young, Gary served as a Little League Manager and was a versatile member of the Dehesa 4H family serving as a leader for any and all activities, dogs, sheep, rabbits, you name it! Whatever the kids and Carol were doing, Gary was involved.

Gary has been on the Board of the Australian Shepherd Club of San Diego County, Best in Obedient Canines, ABOIC Obedience Club, Lickity Splits Fly ball Team and San Diego Agility Club. He was a popular instructor and frontrunner in the newest competitive venue for obedience competition, Rally.

Gary and Carol have been long-standing members of the East County business community as owners of El Cap Upholstery. Together they have enjoyed many hours of classes for agility, obedience, and instinct testing for all breeds of dogs. Gary will be fondly remembered by the Make-A-Wish Foundation for his tireless contributions to the Wags-For-Wishes multi-venue, all-breed dog event held each year to benefit their children. Gary’s enthusiasm for positive training of dogs and dog owners will live on in the hearts of all who knew him in San Diego, Arizona and all of California. His patience and dedication to dog-lovers in their pursuit of competitive excellence with their furry companions was amazing. His love for his family and their vast collection of dogs, cats, horses, 4H projects, race cars and desert toys was unending.

Gary never met a dog that he didn’t love and that didn’t love him in return. He wanted every little dog and every dog owner to be successful. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. His dedication to the health and happiness of his three Australian Shepherds is well-documented by the awards they earned:
Foxpointes Red Line Feve (Rudy) Stds,RAE,CD,RS-E,GS-E,JS-EOCC,TN-N,TG- N,NF,AX,AXJ
Starcross Nite Flite (Molly) CDX,RE,RS-E,GS-E,JS-E,OA,OAJ
Sundown So Happy Special Son (Jack) CDX,RS-O,GS-O,JS-O
All three of these dogs also participated regularly on the Lickity Splits Fly Ball Team, winning numerous titles

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Toby’s Foundation, in memory of Gary Albino.

Please make Toby's Foundation part of your charitable giving. Your gift is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law and helps us in our efforts to stop canine epilepsy. Please check with your company for a matching gifts program to maximize your donation to Toby's Foundation. We accept donations online (see link below) or you may mail us your check to:

Toby's Foundation
P.O. Box 7321
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

Also, please remember, if you have a special person or event to honor, we will send out a lovely announcement card to the person you specify. The card will tell them you have made a donation to Toby's Foundation "In Honor Of" or "In Memory Of" that special person or event.

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