and she wept...................

13 years ago I acquired my first Rottweiler, Sabor. I quickly fell in love with the breed, thanks to him. He was an affectionate, energetic, adventurous soul.  When Sabor was about 8 months old we (my now ex-husband) had a coyote problem where we were living. One night as I left for the gym I told him the coyotes were close and to not let Sabor out off leash.  Upon my return I learned that of course he had done exactly what I had asked him not to do. An 8 month old Rottweiler was no match for a pack of wild coyotes and he had his throat ripped out but managed to make it back to me before dying. Loyalty.

My ex said he'ad get me another one like Sabor was some THING he could replace.  Because of my ex's lack of respect for a living creature and his inability to understand my bond with Sabor and his lack of responsibility for being a guardian of a living creature I decided I didn't want to bring another living creature around him (this is probably what started the downward spiral of our marriage).

A few months went by and I came home from work to discover my ex husband had gone against my wishes and brought home a male rottie pup. I was so upset that he had gone against my wishes but the puppy was here. I named him NaNook and he and I quickly bonded and became inseparable. NaNook went everywhere with me...........everywhere. NaNook and I developed a bond that could not be broken and would become one of the most important bonds of my life.  We became involved in all kinds of training and therapy dog work which helped to strengthen our bond.  His personality was so caring and nurturing that later on in life when he fathered his first litter of pups he was the one that cared for them instead of the female. NaNook quickly became a shining example of the attributes of the breed.  He was loyal, caring, nurturing, protective, and truly affectionate. He loved kids and guarded his pack.

When NaNook was about 1 yr old my ex-husband showed up with another rottie pup, a female. I named her NaKoda. NaKoda was a little more stand offish. She loved NaNook fiercely and was devoted to me but she was just a little remote.  She joined in all the training and therapy work and went everywhere NaNook and I went. Where NaNook was always at my side, NaKoda was always at NaNook's side.

A few years went by and life happened.  Adventures and tragedies all experienced together. When NaNook was 3 yrs old and NaKoda was 2 yrs old my ex husband and I divorced. It truly was just the  3 of us. We were a tightly bonded pack.

Life continued on and the 3 of us continued our journey.  NaNook started having some health issues a few years later. During this time I started noticing little changes in NaKoda's behavior.  Instead of always staying with NaNook she began spending more time by my side.  She began giving more affection as if she was trying to prepare me for NaNook's passing.  Shortly after NaNook's 7th birthday he passed away.  From that moment on NaKoda never left my side.  She took on all the roles in our pack that had previously been NaNook's and her entire personality seemed to evolve into an outgoing, strong, confident one.  She became the canine alpha of our little pack. We continued working with training other animals and the therapy work and NaKoda blossomed into an excellent breed example.  NaKoda traveled with me everywhere and we shared many adventures together.  NaKoda was my companion in every way she could be.

About 3 yrs ago NaKoda started showing signs of aging so our routine changed to accommodate her.  Instead of daily 5 mile walks we broke them into 2; 2.5 mile walks each day, When the summer heat began to effect her we got up earlier or stayed up later for her walks.  When she couldn't jump in the truck to go anymore I lifted her. NaKoda had first been a true mate to NaNook and 2nd a true companion to me. I was determined to accommodate her old age to the best of my abilities.

When family neglected me, when friends faded away, when men betrayed, lied, and disappointed; NaKoda was always there for me and I was going to return the kindness.  Our trips took longer, our adventures grew slower, we retired from training other dogs and therapy work and fostering other animals but our journey continued.

Anyone who didn't believe animals had a soul or were intelligent beings only had to spend a little time with NaKoda to know that this dog (coincidence that it is god spelled backwards.......I think not) not only had a soul but it was a kind, compassionate, loving soul.

After a 3 year battle against increasingly debilitating arthritis and the recent development of cancer, NaKoda passed in my arms at 4am on Saturday morning.  NaKoda had been able to travel one more time to one of our favored locations and relaxx in the wading pools on the rock off the Llano river.

While this has been a devastating event in my life I will always be thankful for the time and experiences I have been able to share with her and all my rotties.  They truly were shining positive examples of the rottweiler breed and all they can be in the right hands.

Nemesis, Monkey and I will truly miss NaKoda and all she brought to our lives.

 


I also want to thank our friends who helped contribute to NaKoda's vet bills for her treatments and meds.  If you would like to do something in her honor we would like to encourage yu to make a donation to your local animal shelter, the SPCA, or an animal rescue group.

and she wept.............

13 years ago I acquired my first Rottweiler, Sabor. I quickly fell in love with the breed, thanks to him. He was an affectionate, energetic, adventurous soul.  When Sabor was about 8 months old we (my now ex-husband) had a coyote problem where we were living. One night as I left for the gym I told him the coyotes were close and to not let Sabor out off leash.  Upon my return I learned that of course he had done exactly what I had asked him not to do. An 8 month old Rottweiler was no match for a pack of wild coyotes and he had his throat ripped out but managed to make it back to me before dying. Loyalty.

My ex said he'ad get me another one like Sabor was some THING he could replace.  Because of my ex's lack of respect for a living creature and his inability to understand my bond with Sabor and his lack of responsibility for being a guardian of a living creature I decided I didn't want to bring another living creature around him (this is probably what started the downward spiral of our marriage).

A few months went by and I came home from work to discover my ex husband had gone against my wishes and brought home a male rottie pup. I was so upset that he had gone against my wishes but the puppy was here. I named him NaNook and he and I quickly bonded and became inseparable. NaNook went everywhere with me...........everywhere. NaNook and I developed a bond that could not be broken and would become one of the most important bonds of my life.  We became involved in all kinds of training and therapy dog work which helped to strengthen our bond.  His personality was so caring and nurturing that later on in life when he fathered his first litter of pups he was the one that cared for them instead of the female. NaNook quickly became a shining example of the attributes of the breed.  He was loyal, caring, nurturing, protective, and truly affectionate. He loved kids and guarded his pack.

When NaNook was about 1 yr old my ex-husband showed up with another rottie pup, a female. I named her NaKoda. NaKoda was a little more stand offish. She loved NaNook fiercely and was devoted to me but she was just a little remote.  She joined in all the training and therapy work and went everywhere NaNook and I went. Where NaNook was always at my side, NaKoda was always at NaNook's side.

A few years went by and life happened.  Adventures and tragedies all experienced together. When NaNook was 3 yrs old and NaKoda was 2 yrs old my ex husband and I divorced. It truly was just the  3 of us. We were a tightly bonded pack.

Life continued on and the 3 of us continued our journey.  NaNook started having some health issues a few years later. During this time I started noticing little changes in NaKoda's behavior.  Instead of always staying with NaNook she began spending more time by my side.  She began giving more affection as if she was trying to prepare me for NaNook's passing.  Shortly after NaNook's 7th birthday he passed away.  From that moment on NaKoda never left my side.  She took on all the roles in our pack that had previously been NaNook's and her entire personality seemed to evolve into an outgoing, strong, confident one.  She became the canine alpha of our little pack. We continued working with training other animals and the therapy work and NaKoda blossomed into an excellent breed example.  NaKoda traveled with me everywhere and we shared many adventures together.  NaKoda was my companion in every way she could be.

About 3 yrs ago NaKoda started showing signs of aging so our routine changed to accommodate her.  Instead of daily 5 mile walks we broke them into 2; 2.5 mile walks each day, When the summer heat began to effect her we got up earlier or stayed up later for her walks.  When she couldn't jump in the truck to go anymore I lifted her. NaKoda had first been a true mate to NaNook and 2nd a true companion to me. I was determined to accommodate her old age to the best of my abilities.

When family neglected me, when friends faded away, when men betrayed, lied, and disappointed; NaKoda was always there for me and I was going to return the kindness.  Our trips took longer, our adventures grew slower, we retired from training other dogs and therapy work and fostering other animals but our journey continued.

Anyone who didn't believe animals had a soul or were intelligent beings only had to spend a little time with NaKoda to know that this dog (coincidence that it is god spelled backwards.......I think not) not only had a soul but it was a kind, compassionate, loving soul.

After a 3 year battle against increasingly debilitating arthritis and the recent development of cancer, NaKoda passed in my arms at 4am on Saturday morning.  NaKoda had been able to travel one more time to one of our favored locations and relaxx in the wading pools on the rock off the Llano river.

While this has been a devastating event in my life I will always be thankful for the time and experiences I have been able to share with her and all my rotties.  They truly were shining positive examples of the rottweiler breed and all they can be in the right hands.

Nemesis, Monkey and I will truly miss NaKoda and all she brought to our lives.

 


I also want to thank our friends who helped contribute to NaKoda's vet bills for her treatments and meds.  If you would like to do something in her honor we would like to encourage yu to make a donation to your local animal shelter, the SPCA, or an animal rescue group.