The Rainbow Bridge

“gone but never forgotten”

As people who choose to share their lives with animals
we must always be prepared for the sorrow of losing one of the “family”,
however,
it is never easy.

Well we were blessed with luck, albeit because of someone else’s misfortune. Carolyn had been watching TradeMe, an online auction and sale site, since we lost Annie in November 2010 looking for a new friend. Finally, a three-year-old Samoyed popped up that needed a new home as her previous owner’s circumstances had changed.

A quick trip to Cambridge and back we came with a new, “to us”, Samoyed to join our pack

While Shelby exhibited the traits we have experienced with our previous Samoyeds including the smiley happy go luck attitude she was a bit of a contradiction. Extremely affectionate she absolutely adored people and being cuddled but she had no trouble standing her ground and putting Baku in his place when he tried to take control.

Prior to coming to live with us Shelby had been an outdoor dog but you wouldn’t have thought so given how quickly she took to sleeping on the bed and dog couch (much to Baku’s disgust as he considered the couch his).

Shelby, you were an absolute delight to have sharing our lives with.
Run free on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge.

Baku was an American Akita or Akita Inu, a breed originally from Japan, and we are extremely grateful to been welcomed as members of “his” pack.

When searching for a Japanese name that would suit the nature of the Akita as a breed we stumbled across the name Baku. The Baku, originally from China, is a beast of Japanese folklore credited with the ability to ward off evil. It has become best known for its ability to devour human nightmares and the bad luck that accompanies them. The creature’s image is considered an auspicious ornament in the bedroom and was once painted in gold lacquer on the pillows of nobility.

Akita’s are an alert but discerning breed. They do not react without reason so with one in the house you know you will always sleep easy – hence Baku as a name was appropriate.

Baku was admitted to hospital during the Covid lockdowns with what turned out be pancreatitis due to a massive bacterial infection. It then impacted on his lungs with him needing to be put on oxygen. The team at the Animal Referral Centre in Albany fought for nearly 24 hours to try and save him but in the end his big heart called enough and he slipped away before we could get there.

After 13 + years with many of them working from home his relationship with David was very special. We both feel like a big chunk was taken out of our hearts.

Anyone who has shared their lives with an Akita will understand how special they are; they are much more than a dog. They are intelligent individuals with the relationship being a complicated partnership. To be considered a member of their pack by them is an honour, to be considered their equal is truly special.

Baku, bug, buddy, buggerku, thank you for all that you gave and the truly special memories we have of our time together. We know you would be upset to know how your passing has made us feel but we can’t help it.

A “friend” found a wild cat and her three young kittens in her woodshed. Knowing that Carolyn was a soft touch she convinced Carolyn to take the “twins” home with her after one visit. The Boys, Aston and Martin, named after Carolyn’s favourite car brand lived in the barn and were tasked with keeping the rodent population at bay.

They also turned into the Dog tormentors by teasing Baku and were our supervisors with no task around the yard, in any of the sheds or elsewhere on the property, including feeding and foaling, getting done without at least one of the dynamic duo in attendance.

Anyone who has shared their lives with an Akita will understand how special they are; they are much more than a dog. They are intelligent individuals with the relationship being a complicated partnership. To be considered a member of their pack by them is an honour, to be considered their equal is truly special.

The opportunity to bring Annie into our lives was just meant to be. Unfortunately it turned out to be nowhere near as long as it should have been. After a short illness, caused by her chewing up and eating a dog toy, the loss of Annie on the operating table didn’t just impact on us but also the great vets who toiled over 4 days to try and save her. It just wasn’t meant to be. Her buddy Baku missed her greatly and couldn’t figure out why his best mate was no longer around to play with.

Always there, always ready for attention, including cuddles on the bed, this timid little girl may have had a short life but she was loved and is dearly missed.

Annie – there will always be a room for your spirit on the bed and in our hearts.
There is no need to worry anymore – you are safe now little one.

Quin was an American Akita or Akita Inu. Originally from Japan where they were used to hunt large game including bear and to guard the children and family they were introduced to the Western World by Helen Keller. Akita’s are a Japanese National Treasure and DNA analysis has confirmed them as one of the oldest breeds of dog.

They are very dedicated and take their responsibility to “the pack” very seriously. At Shibuyu railway station in Tokyo there is a commemorative statue to an Akita named Hachiko who used to see his master off to work at the station every day. Unfortunately on May 11, 1925 his master died of a heart attack at work and never returned. Hachiko returned to the station every afternoon to wait for his master for ten years. Helps you understand why they say that once you have shared your life with an Akita you will never want another breed of dog.

It was Quin who introduced us to the world of showing as Quin was shown by Carolyn until he made Champion.

They say that some animals are special and Quin most certainly was. Aloof to strangers but totally committed to us – he had the ability to make us feel guilty every time we left him and to look forward to seeing him whenever we were heading towards home. It was a honour to have him count us as members of his pack.

“What we have enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us”
Helen Keller

Our best friend has gone and we miss him terribly – rest easy mate.

Mimi was our first moggy. She had a tough start to life being found in the gutter as a young kitten with a smashed jaw. Through the grace of a New Plymouth vet who recognised a strong will for life in her she was granted a chance for a better life. When a home was needed she came to live with us.

She was with us for just over 20 years and moved house with us 7 times during our time together. She enjoyed the life in small town NZ, then small city NZ, then large city NZ (Auckland), then small town NZ and for her final year the rural lifestyle. She trained all our dogs in the ways of the cat – “we can play when we want to but when we don’t WE DON’T!’ and rejoiced in stealing their food at the same time as they were stealing hers. Why is it that someone else’s food is always better?

Rest easy Mimi – we are sure that you have already made your presence known on the other side.

Ebby was our second Samoyed. Carolyn and Ebby tried dog agility for a while. While they both enjoyed it Ebby’s overriding ambition to meet and greet every other dog, their handlers and the general public meant she was not really focused enough for the sport.

Having almost reached seventeen we had to make the hard decision and let Ebby go. Ebby was with us since she was five weeks of age and got to see a lot of the highs and lows but always had a smile on her face and always managed to bring one to ours.

Run free Ebby – you will always hold a very special part in both our hearts.

Our first fur kid as a couple Kyla was an extroverted, grab life by the throat, Samoyed who was given to us as an engagement present by David’s parents neighbours.

For those that don’t know the breed they would have to be one of the happiest creatures on earth as they never seem to have a down day – the smile on Kyla’s face is typical and referred to as the “Samoyed Smile”.

Originally from the Arctic regions where they were used to herd reindeer, hunt polar bear, guard the tent and pull sleds they came to New Zealand in the late 1800’s and were used on Antarctic expeditions including Shackleton’s.

Kyla accompanied us to university for our final year and became a popular fixture at our student flats where she joined in the festivities on a regular basis with sly slurps of our beers. She was a real. Unfortunately, Kyla was tragically taken from us in the prime of her life but by then we were smitten with Samoyeds.

Thanks for all the amazing adventures we shared.
A bright star that was snuffed out much too early.