When one door closes, another opens

12/20 -Started like any other day. . we were snowed in, so I got up late, enjoying as much sleep in my warm bed as possible and went to feed dogs. I stopped and checked on my boy Umbra. . I'd been fighting with myself to let him go, he wasn't eating well, but he wasn't 'ready' yet. . he just hadn't told me he was ready, and that morning was no different. He looked up at me when I stopped, I gave him a kiss, pilled him, gave him some scritches, told him I loved him, and moved to tramp thru 2 ft of snow to feed the rest of the dogs. . .oh joy. . was cold, miserable and hurting after twisting my ankle in numerous holes Ms Tipperary, his cousin, had dug in the yard.

That afternoon, before we went to see Avatar, I checked on him, and found he had passed on. . .always a good boy, he had taken the decision out of my hands. . .almost exactly 9 yrs from the day he was conceived. .it hurt so damn bad. .. and still does.

My pick boy from my third litter, he was always special. . .it took some working with to get him to enjoy dog shows,=. . .but once he decided it was fun to make mom happy, he finished easily considering who we were showing against(big name kennels), in a total of 17 shows, from beginning to end. . . his first show at almost 2.5, he picked up WD under Jon Cole, think he also went BOW, over his Aunt Dei, who also took her first points that day. He took two more points that fall, and then was put up. Then, that winter, his silly ass mother Rinka broke her neck in my yard. .Gossip reminds me so much of her, such that I'm glad we don't live in the world of packed ice anymore. . full speed ahead, no thought of her own safety. . .and Umbra became even more special .

I swore to finish him that year, and came one point shy of it, picking up three majors, including a BOB over the year before's National WD and a top 10 special. .. we made the cut at that year's National, down to the last 7 dogs in BBE under Kent Delaney, making my day. . .I walked out crying, not cuz we didn't finish in the last 4, but because I was so proud of him that we'd made it that far. My first time ever in the BBE at the Nationals and it was a HUGE class.

The next Feb, almost exactly a year from his mother's death, we picked up that last point under Ron Spritzer. I had hopes of specialing him, but that was not to be. Shortly after he finished, Races got severely ill, and $1000+ later, I had to let him go when he DIC'd, few months later, Grins ran his back off, $2500+ later, I had a healthy dog, but no money in which to show Umbra, and when I finally had the money, things started going south fast with the idiot ex.

He wasn't everybody's cup of tea, but i got a lot of compliments on my handsome boy. I'd've liked a less extreme topline and more ribspring, but that's about all. He only sired one litter, and hopefully one of them will continue on in his legacy.

I miss his silly bark when he saw someone he liked, miss his annoying bark when the dogs on the other side of the fence were playing and he couldn't join. Miss his silly happy bounce/dance when I got home, miss his gentle kisses he only gave those he deemed worthy. Miss the way he would just stare at me wagging his tail. .

A week after he left, his cousin brought the next generation into this world. Cobred with Pat hardy of Mandolin Borzoi, Kani whelped a litter of amazing colours sired by a beautiful boy of BOnnie Dalzell's, linebred on one of my favorite dogs, Moscow, a russian import. Unlike her mother, she has been a wonderful mama. We look forward to this next generation, and hope that maybe Umbra will have come back in the sole boy in a litter of 6.

Umbra

It's been almost 2 months since his DX, and he's still going.

Cancer sucks. I've said it before, I will say it again, CANCER SUCKS.

I think I bought over $100 worth of raw meat and various canned foods(Verus, Wellness, Triumph, Purina, you name it, I've tried it), but last few weeks he's turned his nose up at it.

But, he is eating his kibble. I buy the smallest bag I can find, and just rotate it. Was Verus, then Wellness, and now he's on Bil-Jak. . I don't care what he eats, as long as he eats.

I am one of the lucky ones. . I found out about the cancer before he dropped dead on me. DOesn't make it any easier on me. . .this is a common cancer in Saluki's, and my Saluki friend was amazed that we found it. . .but, the only reason we found it was because he came down with pneumonia. . if we hadn't taken those xrays, we'd've never've known.

He's still bright eyed, he's still happy to see me. . .he's currently in the kennel cuz he is drinkign so much water he's peeing a lot, but it's warmer than his run with Grins. . .he's got lots of fluffy beds and seems to be content. Was goign to take him for a walk today, but it's cold and damp, with our first snow of the season going on.