I didn't feel like posting this until now....RIP Sitka

[Taverner]

I had a beautiful white Samoyed, her name was Sitka. She was 14 years old.

She was a rescue dog...we picked her up from Samoyed rescue. Her first owner had left her tied up outside the shelter overnight. No one knows how long she had been there, but she was a skinny adolescent dog barking outside the animal shelter. Her next owner worked days, and as Samoyeds are escape artists, she broke free often.

Then we adopted her. We already had one Sammie (Tigger) but he was afraid of his own shadow. Sitka wasted no time in laying down the law, and got him to "put up or shut up." Sitka was one of those "Uppity Women" and as a result, I liked her right away.

She always looked out for herself, but she had a sweet vulnerable side. Anytime I tied her to a post to go into a store, she would freak out, afraid that I would never come back. She loved belly rubs, cold floors (even on freezing nights) and food. Oh she loved chocolate too, not that WE fed it to her. Unless you locked something up with a padlock, she would get to it and at one time ate an entire chocolate cake.

Anyway, she had a thyroid condition which eventually made her unable to walk or move. That combined with her hip displaysia eventually brought her down.

IT still hurts to think about it...and I'd rather think about her life than her end. I'm tearing up right now writing this....

This is how I will always remember her...



Running next to Tigger in the snow. The snow always brought out a side to her that you rarely saw...one which every inch of her fur exuded life.

[flamingyouth]

1. I'm very sorry for your loss

It's so hard to lose our fur-babies. :hug:

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. They are BEAUTIFUL DOGS!!!

[ogradda]

3. o, she's beautiful

i'm so very sorry:hug:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

4. I'm so sorry

She was a beautiful dog (they both are). I know how hard it must be for you, especially this week. Take care.

[Catherine Vincent]

5. Sorry for your loss.

Sorry to change the subject but I remember a "Sitka" that posted on CNN boards and he said it was the name of one of his dogs. Was that you?

[Taverner]

9. I don't think so...I was on CNN

but it probably wasn't me...

[Bjornsdotter]

6. I am so very sorry,,,

...for your loss.

Hugs,
Kim :hug:

[mhr]

7. RIP Sitka - A Fitting Tribute To Man's Best Friend

I truly believe that kindness to animals says more about our character than anything else we do.

Your a fine companion Taverner, and Sitka new and appreciated it!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

8. I'm so sorry

:hug:

I hope she's rolling in the snow in doggie heaven!

[glitch]

10. So sorry for your loss. She's so beautiful and you gave her a good life

When a dog of mine dies, I imagine all my (and my family's and my friend's) other deceased dogs meeting him/her in heaven, and then they all go running through a field with the sun shining on their coats.

Sappy I know, butit makes me feel better, maybe it will you too.
:hug:

[Benhurst]

11. I, too, am sorry for your loss.

My dog died at age 15, three years ago, and I still miss her deeply.
She, too, was an abused young dog, who grew into a loving, beautiful companion.

Thank you for sharing your picture of Sitka with us. She was a beautiful dog.

[CAcyclist]

12. I'm so very sorry for your loss

She was a beautiful dog. :hug:

[Tashi]

13. Vale Sitka

May you have a beautiful journey. She was lucky to have you and you her.

[Cerridwen]

14. I'm so sorry for your loss. No words...no words.....eom

[Gloria]

15. So sorry for your loss.....she had a wonderful human to watch over

her.

[FizzFuzz]

16. I'm crying for you

grief is so hard.

sending good thoughts.

I love my little Weeny so much, as someone said elsewhere here, It's so hard to outlive your children.

Fur-babies, always innocent, always loving.

[smirkymonkey]

17. What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful Dog!

Rest in peace, dear Sitka.

[KT2000]

18. So sorry you lost your friend

the uppity ones teach us so much. They are both beautiful dogs.

[Taverner]

19. Yes...lets hear it from uppity women of all species

I remember a time when Tigger was running amok, you could see her eyes follow him as he scuttled from room to room...at one point she just lets out a low "ufff!"

And he stopped, and sat down.

Gotta love that...

[Maiden England]

20. Oh, I'm so very sorry

my condolences.

[Pithlet]

21. I'm so sorry.

What a gorgeous dog she was. She led a full and happy life doing what she loved. I'm so sorry for your loss. :hug:

[flygal]

22. I'm sorry - take care

[Lone_Star_Dem]

23. That is so heartbreaking.

Yes, always remember her like that. She was happy, loved and beautiful. I am sorry for your loss.

[SarahB]

24. Sending more hugs your way....

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

I'm sorry for your loss, Mark.

[AwakeAtLast]

25. Oh, Taverner, I'm so sorry!

We had a beautiful miniature American Eskimo dog growing up. He was always mistaken for a Samoyed, which means they are both an absolutely beautiful species. If yours was anything like mine, which is what I am reading in your post, they have personality coming out of their pores. We named ours Cotton (I was 5 at the time), and he was a great friend to our family. We lived on a farm in So. IL, and one morning we found him running through an empty field with a pack of coyotes! I couldn't believe they treated him like their own. I miss him to this day.

It is heartbreaking to hear of your loss. It sounds like you had a very special bond, and this dog thrived in your care.

{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}

[belladonna]

26. Oh sweetie, I'm so sorry

It's so hard, isn't it? I know some people say it's silly, but when I lost mine, I cried for months... still do if I happen to glance at any of her pictures at just the right moment. :hug:

[JimmyJazz]

27. I already told you once that I'm sorry, but I'll tell you again and

again if you need me to... :hug:

I am sorry for your loss,

Donna

[VelmaD]

28. Oh honey, I am so so sorry

:hug:

Call me if you need anything. :hug:

[UrbScotty]

29. RIP Sitka.

I'm thinking of my dogs and how full of life they were.

:hug:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

30. Aw Taverner, I am so sorry for your loss

:hug:

[CornField]

31. RIP Sitka & hugs for the family you left here

We had to put our elderly Dalmatian down last spring... it was one of the hardest thing I ever had to do.

Big hugs to you and your family.

[LDS Jock]

32. hey Taverner.. sorry for your loss

Its kinda dumb but I've been down since you told me about this last night. I never even met her. But I fell in love with her through pictures and the breed because of her. Wish I could so something to help buddy.

:grouphug:

[Taverner]

33. Not dumb at all

I guess all I could ask you to do is consider doing Samoyed rescue and giving one of these truly wonderful dogs a home and taking him or her on as many hikes as possible.

That's what Sitka would want at least... :)

[Cooley Hurd]

34. Very sad to lose a best friend...

I'm so sorry to hear of Sitka's passing. My dog, Paddy, died three days after the election debacle of 2002. I felt double-whammied by it all...

:cry: