Post by cbdtherapydogs on Jul 22, 2013 12:23:43 GMT -5
How do I even begin to say farewell to one of the greatest hounds that God ever created? Just short of turning 13 years old. Tears flow as I type this, oh Dear Lord the pain in my heart, it's not a piece of my heart, but rather shattered pieces are what remains. The things he has done, the things he has accomplished. The second Borzoi in Alabama to become a Pet Partner with the Delta Society, where he excelled far beyond anyone's expectations. From his infamous scooting across the floor to lay his head on the lap of a very young heart transplant patient, which completely turned around the views of the advantages of the healing power of animals by several very skeptical heart doctors, to his countless visits at Childrens Hospital, nursing homes, and schools. He was the first of the Reading Buddies to visit South Eastern Elementary School in Remlap. There, for eight years, we watched so many kids grow into the adolescents that they are today. On my wall still hangs one hand made poster that one child made of Drumm, his work as a therapy dog, and all about the Borzoi breed. As a Crisis Response Canine, we would visit the Amelia House in Birmingham; the emergency shelters who asked us to come after Ivan and Katrina hit the South; and the classrooms with the children who had to suddenly say goodbye to their dearly loved teacher. Unexpected, he worked as a Service Dog for me as well. With out him, I am not sure if I would of ever known that my blood sugar problems were as severe as they are. His alerts were always absolute, and he wouldn't leave me alone until I was okay. Always my guardian angel. Always. He would even alert others, such as his "auntie Patrice".
His love for children was legendary, oh how he loved kids and babies. As a sire, he blessed me with the Disney Quotes litter. Though I've only shown Stitch, he has shown me that he is by far his father's son, and he has been a tremendous joy in my life as much as his daddy. That very first day they were borne, Drumm was there beside the whelping box, next to Oksana. She even allowed him to nuzzle the babies, and soon, Drumm was even snoozing in the box with his puppies and helping clean them. It wasn't long afterwards that Oksana would come to find him and get him to "puppysit" while she rested, pottied, or ate. Then in December, he blessed me again as he became the grandsire to a singleton boy, "Jacob Puppy", Selah's Usti Waya Gi ("Little Wolf Hound" in Cherokee), who is making his show debut at the Priceville shows in November.
His tricks and antics will be told and retold for ages to come. His stories still live on in the books, "Being Borzoi" and "Forever Borzoi", where he has made many others laugh as much as he has made all of us. Who could ever forget the hound who would walk up to any woman and shove his nose into her boob just to watch it jiggle?? Oh yes, that was by far Drumm's favorite trick. Though he also knew how to show me where his nose was, his left from his right, to speak, whisper, take a bow, spin, twirl, jump through a hoop, shake his head yes or no depending on the question, would read the words "SIT" and "DOWN" and preform the action, would "whisper in my ear" the word to a book that a child would stumble upon so that i could read it outloud to the child (the actual cue was me pointing at the book to which he would nose my ear, which gave the appearance that he was "telling" me the word in the book), and all of it he did in Russian. Oh gosh, and the way he could "talk" people out of their food... staring at Amy Farley as though she wasn't supposed to notice him stealing a Krystal cheeseburger out of her hand; stealing chicken nuggets out of Monica Hollis' hands before she had a chance to eat them; talking Karen Ward into an entire bag of "Greyhound Crack"; convincing Melony Cleveland on countless times that she really didn't need that beef jerky.... oh how he was a mess, but we all loved him for it!!
He was there for me when my mother passed away. He was there for me when my dad left and I didn't see him again for almost a decade. He was there for me when my grandmother passed away, the grand woman who raised me and meant so very much to me. He was there through out all the hardships that my biological older sister and my niece has put me through due to their poor life choices. He was there for me when my "father", Doug Vinson, passed away. Drumm was always there. Always. My guardian angel. My strength. My heart.
From Denver, CO, to Augusta, ME, from Miami, FL, to Ingersoll, Ontario, Drumm has made friends and lasting memories.The "honorary Canadian Citizen" as so named by the Sarnia, Ontario, Border Patrol for the countless times he went with me to deliver adoptable retired Greyhounds. For me, twelve far too short years he has filled my life with them. Where have these years gone? Why did they have to be so short? Why does the pain have to be so much?
For his life's work, this is a most pitiful rememberance. He was one of the grandest Borzoi to have ever lived, and will always remain so in my opinion.
I love you, my dearest Drummnavoy, so very much. You snoring beside me at night, kicking me awake as you dream, nosing me for a bite off my plate, stealing my socks, all of you is so dearly missed. I love you so very much, Drumm Drumm. Misha Moose awaits for you, as does your brothers, your dam and sire. Doug will care for you till I get there, so will Mom and Gran. Until that day comes when I can hold you in my arms again and cry tears of joy that we are together again, I will forever miss and love you.
Thank you Trudi for letting the greatest hound ever come to live with me. You may never know how much of a blessing he was to me.
Thank you Patrice, Karen B, Karen T, Amelia, Janna, Dr. Borden, Ray, Chelle, and Anna for all being my support.
Thank you little Eva. Yes, my dear one, it is something to be excited about! Drumm is now getting to play with Jesus, Woo-ey, and Dot Dot! Thank you, dear one, for this joy you gave me today. I so love you, my dear Eva!!
Thank you, dear Lord, for the gift you gave and entrusted to me. I know You'll take great care of him for me until I can be there too. Though I'd appreciate help easing this pain, sorrow, and grief that it's left me.
Jenn (Drumm and Stitch's momma)
His love for children was legendary, oh how he loved kids and babies. As a sire, he blessed me with the Disney Quotes litter. Though I've only shown Stitch, he has shown me that he is by far his father's son, and he has been a tremendous joy in my life as much as his daddy. That very first day they were borne, Drumm was there beside the whelping box, next to Oksana. She even allowed him to nuzzle the babies, and soon, Drumm was even snoozing in the box with his puppies and helping clean them. It wasn't long afterwards that Oksana would come to find him and get him to "puppysit" while she rested, pottied, or ate. Then in December, he blessed me again as he became the grandsire to a singleton boy, "Jacob Puppy", Selah's Usti Waya Gi ("Little Wolf Hound" in Cherokee), who is making his show debut at the Priceville shows in November.
His tricks and antics will be told and retold for ages to come. His stories still live on in the books, "Being Borzoi" and "Forever Borzoi", where he has made many others laugh as much as he has made all of us. Who could ever forget the hound who would walk up to any woman and shove his nose into her boob just to watch it jiggle?? Oh yes, that was by far Drumm's favorite trick. Though he also knew how to show me where his nose was, his left from his right, to speak, whisper, take a bow, spin, twirl, jump through a hoop, shake his head yes or no depending on the question, would read the words "SIT" and "DOWN" and preform the action, would "whisper in my ear" the word to a book that a child would stumble upon so that i could read it outloud to the child (the actual cue was me pointing at the book to which he would nose my ear, which gave the appearance that he was "telling" me the word in the book), and all of it he did in Russian. Oh gosh, and the way he could "talk" people out of their food... staring at Amy Farley as though she wasn't supposed to notice him stealing a Krystal cheeseburger out of her hand; stealing chicken nuggets out of Monica Hollis' hands before she had a chance to eat them; talking Karen Ward into an entire bag of "Greyhound Crack"; convincing Melony Cleveland on countless times that she really didn't need that beef jerky.... oh how he was a mess, but we all loved him for it!!
He was there for me when my mother passed away. He was there for me when my dad left and I didn't see him again for almost a decade. He was there for me when my grandmother passed away, the grand woman who raised me and meant so very much to me. He was there through out all the hardships that my biological older sister and my niece has put me through due to their poor life choices. He was there for me when my "father", Doug Vinson, passed away. Drumm was always there. Always. My guardian angel. My strength. My heart.
From Denver, CO, to Augusta, ME, from Miami, FL, to Ingersoll, Ontario, Drumm has made friends and lasting memories.The "honorary Canadian Citizen" as so named by the Sarnia, Ontario, Border Patrol for the countless times he went with me to deliver adoptable retired Greyhounds. For me, twelve far too short years he has filled my life with them. Where have these years gone? Why did they have to be so short? Why does the pain have to be so much?
For his life's work, this is a most pitiful rememberance. He was one of the grandest Borzoi to have ever lived, and will always remain so in my opinion.
I love you, my dearest Drummnavoy, so very much. You snoring beside me at night, kicking me awake as you dream, nosing me for a bite off my plate, stealing my socks, all of you is so dearly missed. I love you so very much, Drumm Drumm. Misha Moose awaits for you, as does your brothers, your dam and sire. Doug will care for you till I get there, so will Mom and Gran. Until that day comes when I can hold you in my arms again and cry tears of joy that we are together again, I will forever miss and love you.
Thank you Trudi for letting the greatest hound ever come to live with me. You may never know how much of a blessing he was to me.
Thank you Patrice, Karen B, Karen T, Amelia, Janna, Dr. Borden, Ray, Chelle, and Anna for all being my support.
Thank you little Eva. Yes, my dear one, it is something to be excited about! Drumm is now getting to play with Jesus, Woo-ey, and Dot Dot! Thank you, dear one, for this joy you gave me today. I so love you, my dear Eva!!
Thank you, dear Lord, for the gift you gave and entrusted to me. I know You'll take great care of him for me until I can be there too. Though I'd appreciate help easing this pain, sorrow, and grief that it's left me.
Jenn (Drumm and Stitch's momma)