| 8 Oct 2003. Susi's time has come. Her entire life was borrowed time, but never-the-less sadness fills our house tonight. In this day and age where terrorism has touched our shores on a major scale and our armed forces are
engaged around the world, some may think it frivolous to lament the passing of a dog. Believe me, in this house that is not the case. This is a house where military and police K-9s, SAR (Search and Rescue) and other service dogs are honored and
respected. In this house these trusted friends and companions of man are recognized for their value. That value is in their service or potential service to human kind. Certainly their lives are not on a par with human life, but what they provide for us
should not be taken lightly. The amount of human lives these animals have saved definitely can not be taken lightly. Thus, their lives and their passing is not frivolous. It is a time for honor and respect.
While Susi was not active as a service dog, she shares the honorable heritage. She began life to be trained for SAR or some other service function. When we realized she suffered from mega-esophagus, we had to pull her out of all training, despite the promise she showed. She spent her life as a pet. During her younger years she was a demon in tennis ball games. Acting like a shortstop, frantically cutting off the ground balls from our other dogs playing the 'outfield'. Frisbee was another favorite game. She worked as hard at these games as she had done in her early training years. Because of her condition with her work ethic, we had to take positive steps to cut off her excercise periods. Else she would have worked herself to death. An easy thing to occur in her condition.
As a German Shepherd living over eleven and a half years, Susi equated to a 74 year old person. We believe that to be a record for a mega-esophagus afflicted dog. We would like to know if anyone knows of a longer-living such dog. |
|---|
| We believe Susi to have been the longest living GSD survivor of Mega-Esophagus ever. Can anyone confirm this? She was born 8 April 1992. She died 8 October 2003. |  | SUSI |
|---|
| SUSI's DATA | SUSI's TRAINING | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name: SUSI (Dam: Hieda ~ Sire: Kiser Wilhelm) | Basic Obedience | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finnish Meaning: Wolf | Advanced Obedience | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sex: Female | Beginning SAR | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DOB: April 8.1992 ~ Died: October 8, 2003 | Good Citizen School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of Birth: Lexington Park, Maryland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Acquired: May 1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Breeder: Private Citizen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Susi was the Alpha Bitch.
She knew it and showed it.
It was in her eyes.
I called her coyote eyes.
She used them to stare down the other dogs.
When Peto was alive, he was the benevolent pack leader.
Susi was the hard-assed
XO.
Then she became the senior dog and the leader.
Sometimes she acted like she wasn't sure of her new role.
I think she missed him.
Despite her Show Class ancestry, Susi had the straight
back and erect posture of the Working Class GSD.
Through the
rest of her puppyhood, adolescence and into her adulthood, Susi and Peto were constant companions. Even the arrival of Kessu in 1993 didn't upset their togetherness. Then in 1995, Jassu arrived as a young adult and Peto fell head over heels for her. He
virtually ignored Susi and played 'macho' with Jassu, who apparently loved the attention. Sometimes Susi seemed unconcerned and other times, I thought there was a trace of wistfulness as she watched them play.
When Peto died, it was Jassu who seemed unconcerned and Susi sometimes appeared lost.
I wonder if I read too much into what I thought I saw. Still, I know she missed him.
Susi did well in every activity we worked her in, but we had to pull her from everything at an early age. Susi was born with mega-esophagus. GSD's are pre-disposed to this condition. When they have
it, they rarely live more than one or two years. Through special eating arrangements, permanent anti-biotic medication and TLC, Susi remained an otherwise healthy animal capable of reasonable activity. Despite our efforts, she slowly lost lung
capacity due to the ingestion of food particles, so her endurance gradually lessened.
Why did we keep her around for over 11 years? She was a good dog. Despite her tough approach to other dogs, (note I did NOT say aggressive), she was a people dog. She was an absolute people lover and a delight to have around.
Susi's Baby Picture.
Most of our dogs naturally bonded to Annie. Susi bonded to me. She was barely weaned when we got her. She followed me where ever I went, and for whatever reason, decided I was her human.
|
Habits are hard to break. I just stepped out of my computer room and expected to have to step over Susi. She always laid right outside my door. With her recent hearing loss, she no longer heard me coming. With my recent surgery, stepping over her had
been difficult. I used to wake her to avoid startling her and having her jump up and trip me. It could have been disastrous in my condition. It was agonizingly difficult for her to stand. Fortunately my condition improved and stepping over her was no
longer impossible. I could safely let her lie. Something was missing as I stepped through the door this evening.
Susi was one of the warmest and most loving dogs I have known. She was hard on other dogs, but loved people. She earned her eleven and a half years of life with the love and devotion she gave. She is missed already. I was at work when her time came. I
was unable to say goodbye as I did with our previous dogs. Annie did that for us. It was strange coming home today and not having her greet me with the other dogs. More old habits dying hard.
She is the third of our pack to pass on. She will join Peto and Kessu and everyone's predecessor Windy at the Rainbow Bridge. |
|---|
Susi's Music is SUSI Q (of course!)
|
A Story For Our Time A Tale of Courage and Grit ~ With a Twist |
|---|
 |
A Rousing Adventure
by the High Country Friends Literary Review Group, Tuolumne County, CA Received 1st place votes for best novel reviewed in 2004 by Saint Mary's County, MD Literary Review Club |
Photos by Annie
Photo editing by Charlie
Paw Print Graphic from:
Lissa Jane's Dogicons
Get your own Free Home Page
