Bon Voyage Sedona

I have had purebred animals and rescue animals, and my favorites have been rescues.  Purebreds are beautiful and if you are into breed competitions, well, you have to go that route.  But for all around ranch animals you can't beat a rescue dog.  In my experience they are hardy and healthy, maybe from surviving on the street.  They also bring a happiness, a love of life, and a devotion that can't be surpassed.  Sedona was all those things.

When Brett and I were first married in 2000, and living in the suburbs, we had a Weimeraner.  She was a beautiful dog, very sweet, but not healthy.  We lost her when she was only two years old, just after we moved into our home at Aspen Meadows.  Brett was devastated.  I started campaigning for a new dog almost immediately but Brett said he just wasn't ready.   A few months later, on my birthday, he called me at work.  This was before he retired from the city police department.  He called to tell me that animal control had picked up a yellow dog.  He suggested I come over to the PD on my lunch and take a look.  Sure enough, there was a yellow dog, about knee high, tied with a long rope to a post by the back parking lot.  She was found roaming the city streets with a threadbare and dirty collar. No tags. When the dog saw me, it squeaked like a tea kettle and dropped to the ground, rolling onto her back in submission.  I spoke to her softly and she showered me with affection, sitting on my feet and continuing with the tea kettle squeaking.  It was my birthday and she was a wonderful gift.

After she was neutered and ready to be released to us, I took her into our vet for a check up.  I was told that she was about eight months old and most likely a mix of kuvasz (say what?) and something else.  I was warned that she would be large.  No kidding.  Sedona grew and grew and grew.  Kuvasz are Hungarian wolfhounds and huge.  We think she also had some German shephard in the mix. 

She never stopped squeaking when she was excited and she always sat on my feet.  She would also wrap her paw around my legs in a hug. 

Sedona was close to twelve years old when we lost her today.  She was my favorite dog ever.  EVER.

She loved Kyle and Camille and kept watch over them when they were small.

She loved the snow.  She would walk through a creek full of freezing water on a snowy day and not flinch.

She loved Kersey.

She loved chasing squirrels, birds and the cat.  She was a working dog and she took her job of policing the property seriously.

Even at the end, when she couldn't walk and wouldn't eat, she had her head up watching her property.

She was very, sweet and welcoming with friends and family.

She was a ranch dog through and through.  She tolerated being in the house but she much preferred to be outside; particularly when it was cold.

It was hard to let her go this afternoon but it was time.  We cradled and caressed her as she peacefully slipped away.  Godspeed Sedona.