The K9Farm 
The hardest part of having pets is
losing them. It doesn't matter when you got them, how long they stayed
or how many years pass after you lose them, their pawprints remain in
your heart forever. All of our bridge kids are cremated and their ashes
returned to us. Somewhere down the road I plan that all of our ashes
will be mingled together and scattered somewhere. I'm still looking for
the "right" place. For now, it's enough to have everybody here.
Below are some of our favorite pictures and memories of the K9Farm's Bridgekids.
Grimm
January 27, 1990 - January 25, 2002
We adopted Grimm at the Humane Society on March 17, 1990. He was my
first dog, and my heart dog. We learned so much together. That poor boy
was "Natasha" for awhile...til I figured out the sign on the cage door
had been wrong and "she" was a "he". (Me: The sign said "F"...Steve:
Yeah, but "that" says "D". I'll never forget that! LOL) That was how
much I *didn't* know about dogs when he came home with us. He got his
name because he had a fondness for getting in the trash and drinking
from the toilet, just like Grimm in the funny papers. He was a water
dog as long as he could swim. He didn't like the wading pool. He loved
riding on the wave runner, and floating on the inner tube with me. He
was intelligent and had the most amazing sense of humor. He was the
ring bearer in my wedding to Kevin, and even stood in the reception
line to greet our guests. The memories are endless and I'm glad I have
them. My life was never the same after Grimm came into it and I
couldn't be happier about it.
Marissa
?? 1989 - July 26, 2002
She was 11 when she came to us, and she walked in the door and 5 minutes later tumbled down the basement steps. I was horrified and expected to find broken dog at the bottom of the steps. Instead, I helped her to her feet, and she wandered around the basement totally unfazed checking things out. I carried her back upstairs, and from that moment she was "home." She fit into the krew as if she'd always been here. She was the calm in the middle of the storm, patiently waiting her turn at the back of the crowd to welcome us home, or go out the door, or come in the door. She was never pushy, just quietly there. Two and a half years later she asked to leave, and we helped her to go, holding her through the end. Somehow losing her quiet presence left chaos in her absence. Things just seem louder without her around.
Gracie
??? - September 30, 2002
Gracie's history prior to
arriving at the K9Farm is a bit of a mystery. She was approximately two
years old, and just as loving and as sweet as could be. But after Grimm
died, Gracie started getting aggressive with the other dogs and with
strangers. There were several fights, and finally she attacked Speedie
with the intent to kill her. She attacked the crate Speedie was
recovering in as well. That made my decision for me, heartbreaking as
it was. We had Gracie put to sleep on September 30, 2002. I'll never
know what her first life was or why she attacked the other dogs or why
strangers threatened her so. But no amount of love from us could change
it and it cost her her life. Gracie was just this big doofus of a dog
who loved us unconditionally but couldn't find it within herself to
love others as well. She would actually raise her lips and *smile* at
us with her head kind of sideways. I'll always remember that smile.
Legends Noble Commander
April 14, 2002 - February 1, 2003
Commander was Honor's
brother. His death still haunts me, and probably always will. He was
taken from us by a freak accident playing in the yard. Somehow he broke
his back, but as we didn't see it happen how will always remain a
mystery. It's never easy losing a beloved pet, but to lose one at 9.5
months somehow makes it worse. Commander followed me around all day and
told me everything. He was a huge talker and we had long conversations
everyday. He loved the show ring. "Wanna go be a show dog?" would make
him dance in ecstasy. He was definitely "My boy". I picked him out the
instant I saw him. I was ecstatic when Debbie said he was mine. And
catatonic for a month when he died. But Commander loved to play, and
like children, you can't keep puppies in boxes of cotton wool. I will
forever remember his face as he raced around the yard with Honor, and
how much he loved "going to a show."
The first of what I thought would be many Best of Breeds.
Ch Sensations Karman Ghia
June 22, 1992 - October 18, 2003
Karman had decided to die
and was starving herself to death when she came to us. She was our
first saluki, and we spent 3 weeks hand feeding her anything she would
eat. From hand feeding we progressed to eating in a chair with a tray
table, and finally to eating on the floor with her bowl on a chair.
Karman was a classic saluki, and a true lady. She was also the first
dog that chose Kevin as her person, and he spoiled her something
fierce. She started the "sharing his breakfast" thing that Honor now
enjoys, and would stand with her head on his arm at the dinner table as
well. Karman had a "thing" for the newfies, and would play a game with
them we called "stomp." She would stomp her feet and twirl in front of
one of the newfies, usually Einstein, and they would respond by
stomping their feet and nudging her. This would be repeated several
times, and then she would run off and curl up somewhere. Karman was
truly reserved with most people, but for Kevin she would do anything
and go anywhere - even into the show ring as a veteran where she took
Best of Breed in Salina, KS in 2002. She may have been Kevin's girl,
but it was my love of her that truly hooked me on salukis.
Starlight Speed
September 4, 2006 we finally lost Speedie. She was my first sighthound and responsible for my love affair with salukis. She was almost 15 years old and I was beginning to think she'd be like the Ever Ready Bunny. For nearly 10 years, she guarded her couch from invading puppies, and played with them too. It's still hard to not see her on the couch. Run fast and free at the Bridge dear Speedie. There are too many old friends there ahead of you.
