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My dream was to have a blue merle boy from Cloud. After delivering 5 pups she stopped. I sent a text message to my friend writing 'She didn't do a blm boy for me to keep'. Cloud obviously read it because she started to push! So the last pup to born was a dark blm boy. :)
His reg.name is Crazy Coyote (Kirjava Kojootti), a Native American name after his parents; dad 'Spark' is the RED WOLF and Cloud's pedigree is full of indian names. Spark went home in Autumn 2004 so I hoped the little prairie wolf (coyote) would follow in his footsteps...
Why is he called Freak? — because of his odd, muddy merle colour, and because dictionary says 'freak: extremely keen about something' (asiasta äärimmäisen innostunut). And he loves Obedience.
NOTE! Quite recently (6/2007) I found a photo of a brindle merle BC, and he looked very very much like Freak, so it is highly possible that Freak was not only blue merle but also brindle. And I've no clue whatsoever how is that possible :D I'll add the link to my link page when it gets finished.
During the summer Freak went to every Ob show with us and training & all was going well. Autumn turned into winter. Then the tragedy hit. He got seriously ill with various symptoms. Several tests & scans revealed that he had a cyste in his brain that probably caused the restlessness, loss-of-balance and other changes. Medicines did not help much. Weeks of not-knowing-if-he-will-live -agony begun. There had been signs during the summer, I had wondered why he was so clumsy... but I never thought it could be something so sinister.
I, who've always said that dogs don't count the days they live on this earth, didn't have the heart to put him to sleep. I had just let go of Tris, & Spark (in a way), I couldn't let my coyote go as well! So young, such a personality, and so dear to me. Christmas 2004 was very bleak. 2005 started even worse, I was soo down, and fell rather ill myself. Freak kept me awake with constant walking, whining or wanting to go out as his systems went haywire. Worry, worry... it was hell.
I knew I'd have to let go but.. however hard living with him was, living without him would be even worse... Then Freak was given one last chance. In late February 2005 he had an operation to remove the cyste. It was no plain sailing afterwards, ie. he had to be re-house-trained. Recovering was a slow process but he was improving.
My heartfelt thanks to my closest friends for being there for me during this extremely difficult and stressful time. I honestly don't know how I'd have coped without you. Also thanks to some people who have a dog from me for being understanding and supportive. I appreciate it very very much.
It was not easy to update his page after all the bad news. Some people are sensible, some live on others' distress and some try to make it even worse by saying things that are not true :( . Certain people were informed of Freak's strange illness, but those who read it from here; according to the vets his parents can be used for breeding. All his littermates are fine. All other puppies by his parents are fine, except for little Luna who died as a pup due to a liver shunt (not the same thing). She was Cloud's pup.
In August 2005, six months after the operation, I was informed of the "final" result. The operation itself was a success but there had been complications afterwards, those left marks in his brain. He lost his sight from one eye and remained a bit clumsy with unsteady gait. He was on medication to keep him more stable. There was a chance of his condition reverting to what it was.
Still, for that summer he was a happy dog, a bit of a trickster ;) and a bit spoiled I'm afraid.., always ready for training and fun&games. He was exuberant and funny. He learnt new things, albeit extremely slowly. His temperament was absolutely superb, but on a bad day he could be high strung, restless and noisy. He was never aggressive, he loved everybody, even at the vets. Freak liked to play with Nevada The Puppy, although he was very much mine. We did have a very special bond between us.
I am thankful for the vets who gave a chance for Freak. But I guess some of us are too good to walk on earth...
All things come to an end, some things sooner than we wish... Freak and I run out of the days together. We had a lovely long Autumn, nice walks in the warm sunshine.. but with each day towards Winter your eyes grew more weary and your feet would not let you rest.
The dry leaves rustled in the chilly breeze and the last flock of geese flew away. There was the smell of snow in the cold air, the dawn was pale. I was shivering because of the pain inside me.
While I fondled your lovely big soft ears, your spirit slowly slipped through my fingers and left the crippled body you were given at birth. To let you go was the most difficult and most painful decision I have ever had to make. I love you so.. my heart is broken in thousand pieces. It will never be the same again.
Run swift and free on the wide open prairie above, my sweet Coyote.
It's so hard to believe you are gone... so hard.
I miss you. Every single day.
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