8 replies to this topic

[Allison]

I am honored to deliver this testimonial:

Quote

SKY MOON SHADOW

How do I begin to describe Shadow? I can state all the usual statistics, American Indian Dog 50002, born May 23, 1998, 10:55 p.m. The third pup born. Grey Sable bitch - Sire, Highland Storm of S.D.K.; Dam Little Skye of S.D.K. Died Friday, March 28, 2008, of a non-hereditary canine meningitis.

But, this doesn't begin to explain her relationship with our family or our love of this wonderful American Indian Dog.

I first became aware of "Song Dogs" in the January/February 1997 issue of the magazine "Wild About Animals". I am, like the Song Dogs, a native of the American Plains, now living in Scotland since 1987 when our family moved from the Chicago, Illinois area. I contacted Sarah Harrison the only American Indian Dog breeder in the United Kingdom and made arrangements to visit her and meet Storm and Skye.

Through Sarah, I learned about Kim LaFlamme, who devotes his life to saving the true American Indian Dog and the formation of the American Indian Dog Club in Selma, Oregon.

With Shadow becoming part of our family, I saw an opportunity to save a vestige of my American Plains heritage and to preserve and protect a unique part of our American history.

Shadow was officially my dog, but every one of our family had a close and different relationship with her. She came to me for unconditional love; our daughter, Jeanne Marie, shared Shadow's love of outdoors and adventure; our son, David James roughhouse play and husband David "leader of the pack". Jeanne Marie's partner, Ian, was singled out as a particular favourite of Shadow - she loved Ian! If Ian and Jeanne Marie tried to hold hands, Shadow would put her head in between them as if to say "hands off - he's mine!" Everyone who met Shadow formed a deep and instant understanding with her. American Indian Dogs are a thinking breed, very instinctual and territorial conscious. She created an intense bond with our family, human and animal.

They say that people tend to look like their dogs after a while. I like to think I developed some of Shadow's traits. Wisdom of the ages, intelligence, loyalty, determination and understanding. Shadow - giver of unconditional love.

Kim LaFlamme said in his Modern History of the American Indian Dog that these dogs have something very important to teach each and everyone of us if we are willing to listen.

The other name for the American Indian Dog is "Song Dog" as Shadow demonstrated every morning, "singing" good morning. I hope we can assure that this wonderful animal will sing on and fulfill the Native American prophesy that the descendants of "God's Dogs" will sing on thru eternity.

I had no idea when Shadow came to live with us how much she would change our lives nor how much a part of me is missing now that she is gone.

A quote from Richard Bach, author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull

"What matters is not the form we take,
but the beauty and love we decide to shine through it".

My beautiful Shadow, how we miss you. However, it will always be me and my Shadow.


Janice Simpson
Elvingston House
May 2008

[Paul and Angelique]

Goose-pimples after reading this.

[liz]

Paul and Angelique, on May 23 2008, 10:55 AM, said:

Goose-pimples after reading this.

Me too and a few tears, Shadow was Shunka's litter sister, I only saw her once when I went to pick up Shunka, but they were all lovely as the iidoba logo shows.

As Shunka goes for another op on Saturday now, it also hits rather hard at home.

[Kaily with Sikari]

I am so sorry to hear of her loss of shadow...I must agree with you guys it definitly brought tears to my eyes! I can only imagine how hard it must be...But it was 10 years that Shadow spent with them and a 10 year learning experience for all of them! Again sorry for your loss...Shadow will be in my heart!

Kaily and Sikari

[Janice]

liz, on May 27 2008, 07:29 AM, said:

Me too and a few tears, Shadow was Shunka's litter sister, I only saw her once when I went to pick up Shunka, but they were all lovely as the iidoba logo shows.

As Shunka goes for another op on Saturday now, it also hits rather hard at home.

Dear Paul and Angelique,

I too, think all of Shadow's litter mates were beautiful. I hope Shunka is feeling better after her operation. I am thinking of her.

It doesn't seem like 10 years since they were all born on May 23rd - it only seems like we had her for something like 10 minutes! But each minute was precious.

Thank you for your e-mail. Please keep in touch.

Best regards,

Janice Simpson

[liz]

Janice, on Jun 2 2008, 03:47 PM, said:

Dear Paul and Angelique,

I too, think all of Shadow's litter mates were beautiful. I hope Shunka is feeling better after her operation. I am thinking of her.

It doesn't seem like 10 years since they were all born on May 23rd - it only seems like we had her for something like 10 minutes! But each minute was precious.

Thank you for your e-mail. Please keep in touch.

Best regards,

Janice Simpson

Hello Janice

If you would like to keep in touch, I am more than welcome to do so. Shunka is as fine as can be expected at present, it is a shame you are one end of the UK and us the other!

You're right 10 years has flown, most people think Shunka is much younger or female, they think he's too pretty to be a boy.

He's the one on the right of that lovely photo of them all, it was almost the last time they were all together.

Shadow will always be part of the logo too, which will be a beautiful memorial to her too.

Shunka is now asleep, we are having to keep him slightly sedated, but it doesn't seem to be working too well. He is trying all ways to get around his collar, the wound is beginning to itch and he has a large area where he was shaved so that muct be itchy too!

He goes back to the vets on Tuesday, so hopefully all will be well.

Take care

Liz

[Janice]

liz, on Jun 6 2008, 12:46 AM, said:

Hello Janice

If you would like to keep in touch, I am more than welcome to do so. Shunka is as fine as can be expected at present, it is a shame you are one end of the UK and us the other!

You're right 10 years has flown, most people think Shunka is much younger or female, they think he's too pretty to be a boy.

He's the one on the right of that lovely photo of them all, it was almost the last time they were all together.

Shadow will always be part of the logo too, which will be a beautiful memorial to her too.

Shunka is now asleep, we are having to keep him slightly sedated, but it doesn't seem to be working too well. He is trying all ways to get around his collar, the wound is beginning to itch and he has a large area where he was shaved so that muct be itchy too!

He goes back to the vets on Tuesday, so hopefully all will be well.

Take care

Liz

[Janice]

Dear Liz,

I hope Shunka has recovered from the operation and is back to being his lively self!

I have not visited the American Indian Dog site since posting Shadow's death, because I could not bear to look at the dogs.

I miss Shadow each and every day - I don't think I'll ever come to terms with her death.
Yes, it's too bad you live in Somerset and we live in Scotland as I would love to visit and get to know Shunka.

My daughter recently brought home a red Border collie. We named him Hobbs as he is like a chocolate covered cookie color! He has amber eyes, very much like Shadow's. Hobbs helps take some of the pain away from missing Shadow, but will never replace her.

Please let me hear from you and what's new with Shunka.

I get to travel to California from time to time and on one of my next trips I intend to visit Kim and see all the wonderful dogs he has. It is almost impossible to put a dog thru the six month quarantine required in the UK. I brought a stray cat back from Malta and she had to do the six months - hard enough for a cat, let alone to cage up a dog for that period of time. I couldn't do it! Our pure white (with green eyes) cat is doing fine in Scotland. We named her Sabiha (Maltese for Beauty). Although I'll bet she wonders where the sun has gone sometime!

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Janice Simpson
Elvingston House

[liz]

Janice, on Oct 3 2008, 02:49 PM, said:

Dear Liz,

I hope Shunka has recovered from the operation and is back to being his lively self!

I have not visited the American Indian Dog site since posting Shadow's death, because I could not bear to look at the dogs.

I miss Shadow each and every day - I don't think I'll ever come to terms with her death.
Yes, it's too bad you live in Somerset and we live in Scotland as I would love to visit and get to know Shunka.

My daughter recently brought home a red Border collie. We named him Hobbs as he is like a chocolate covered cookie color! He has amber eyes, very much like Shadow's. Hobbs helps take some of the pain away from missing Shadow, but will never replace her.

Please let me hear from you and what's new with Shunka.

I get to travel to California from time to time and on one of my next trips I intend to visit Kim and see all the wonderful dogs he has. It is almost impossible to put a dog thru the six month quarantine required in the UK. I brought a stray cat back from Malta and she had to do the six months - hard enough for a cat, let alone to cage up a dog for that period of time. I couldn't do it! Our pure white (with green eyes) cat is doing fine in Scotland. We named her Sabiha (Maltese for Beauty). Although I'll bet she wonders where the sun has gone sometime!

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Janice Simpson
Elvingston House

Any time you fancy coming South, let us know!

Shunka is fine, has a clean bill of health at present, and is back to his old self, it was long haul, from January to the end of August before he got over this lot, can only hope it won't return!

I hope Hobbs is doing well, borders at least are usually, bright and intelligent, ther are quite a few in the village, Shunka gets on quite well with them

A very lively Springer Spaniel has moved in next door, Shunka met him over the wall, wasn't too sure, but has accepted him now thankfully.

You're right about the quarantine, I couldn't do it either, I am not sure how Sarah coped with it! Visiting very often I suppose, it would be the only way.

The passport system wouldn't work too well either, the dogs would have to be innoculated for six months before being allowed in, so the puppy bonding stage would be difficult too maybe, best to ask Kim on that one!

I must get myself one of those T-shirts and maybe a cap, not been really into those, but I could succomb to one of those!

Take care enjoy Hobbs, the pain will ease, but Shadow will always be there in your heart.

I have just had an old friend euthanised, that was hard, he was a gorgeous tabby, but unfortunately at well ove 18 he became completely deaf and blind. I just sat and cried in the surgery, but he lay in my arms and purred until he faded away.

But Sasquatch (the small black and white part burmese) with six toes on each foot is a little character, he is 2 now and goes for walks with Shunka, we call him Sasqui, he is a lovely little fella.

I have your address in a safe place somewhere, I shall be in touch again.

Liz