Nikki (Nikima) (6/1/1988-5/10/2004)

     Nikki was born on or about June 1, 1988.  I got her when she was about a month and a half old and we've been together ever since.  She is part German Shepherd Dog and part Border Collie.  She was named after the monkey on the old Saturday morning "Tarzan" cartoon. (This should date a few people!)  She is also the smartest dog I have ever known and has all the personality to match.  Nikki's had to make a lot of adjustments over the years.  Being replaced as first lady of the household was probably the worst.  I'm not sure whether Nikki or Andrea had the hardest time dealing with the jealousy.  But the two have established what I would term an "uneasy peace" most of the time! ;-)  Nearly as difficult for her were the several moves we have made over the years, The addition (and subtraction) of 3 other dogs (Caleb, Conan, & Patty Cake - hey, I didn't name her!) and my various business trips.  Though she is approaching 15 years old now, she is still in reasonably good health and ... shhhh, don't tell ... she's really still the head female in the house!

Update: 5/10/04 - After many long months of battling arthritis in her knees & hips, we gave up the fight today.  She was almost completely deaf, nearly blind, and unable to carry herself without extensive pain medication.  We'd been through many different types of medication, but none of the usual types seemed to work for her.  The best seemed to be plain aspirin, but this had been hard on her stomach and she had a skin allergy reaction to it.  In the last few weeks, we resorted to a Codeine-based medication and this helped a little.  But as things continued to get worse, I took her in to the vet today.  The last pictures in the back yard were taken shortly before we left.  

Her ashes will be scattered over a rose garden at Pet Rest Gardens in Northern Indiana (along with Caleb)

Nikki was the first and last (to date) pets of our marriage.  She was the most loyal, loving friend I've ever had.  I will miss her.

Epitaph To A Dog:

"Near this spot

Are deposited the Remains of one

Who possessed Beauty Without Vanity,

Strength without Insolence,

Courage without Ferocity,

And all the Virtues of Man Without his vices.

This Praise, which would be unmeaning flattery

If inscribed over Human Ashes,

Is but a just tribute to the Memory of

"[Nikki]," a Dog

Who was born at [Indianapolis,

June 1, 1988,

And died at McCordsville

May 10, 2004]"

(Originally to "Boatswain" by Lord Byron in the garden of Newstead Abbey, 1808)

Conan (1988-2004)

     We picked up Conan as a stray shortly after we were married.  She had been running loose in a nearby neighborhood for some weeks when a friend called and asked us whether we'd like another dog. I couldn't resist.  We had a difficult time catching her as she was terribly afraid of people apparently having been badly abused before "escaping" whatever her former home was.  She's still a very insecure dog, but has come a VERY long way with lots of TLC and perseverance.  When she ran loose as a stray, many of the kids in the neighborhood had befriended her and she would keep them company at the bus stop in the mornings.  She was the most muscular dog I have ever seen (as well as the most high-strung!) - so much so that even the kids noticed her muscular build and named her "Conan" not knowing that she was a female.  I liked the name so well I kept it, though it is frequently shortened to "Nan" or "Nanners" (... what can I say?)  But of course it's still Conan when she's in trouble!  Conan is mostly German Shepherd Dog but part something else - I believe it to be Chow Chow, but our vet disagrees - so much for vets!  She has the softest coat I've ever felt on a dog.  Unfortunately she seems to be blowing her undercoat year-round.  We don't know exactly how old she is, but she's not many years younger than Nikki and we've had her since 1990.  She is the proverbial "bull in a china shop" and has accordingly destroyed a large glass curio cabinet twice (once with only her tail).  She tends to be a bit clumsy and is definitely an "outdoor dog" though she's just as apt to crawl up into your lap if you're not watching!  Though she's quite intelligent, she is so skittish and high-strung that it's very difficult to work with her.  She has however learned a few commands and is, under it all, a very loving dog.

Update: 2004.  At the end of February this year, we found Conan lying in the back yard the way she often does in the morning to sun herself.  But sometime during the night she had passed on.  She had been perfectly healthy the night before.  The veterinarian explained that a common cause of death for German Shepherd dogs is a burst fatty tumor that can happen suddenly and without warning.  It appears that she died in her sleep.  I can think of no better way to lose a pet.  We miss her greatly.

CALEB  (1988-2002)

     Caleb was Andrea's dog and was born very nearly the same day as Nikki was.  Caleb lived a charmed life.  He was born the runt of the litter and was the last remaining dog to be taken when the owners were trying to get rid of the puppies.  Andrea had compassion and took him in.  Caleb seems to have been born with no brain.  He is truly the stupidest dog I have ever known.  He did however actually (finally!) learn "lay-down", "shake hands", and "speak" over the course of his life.  He did not, however, ever actually learn how to lift his leg to pee like a male dog.  Balancing on three-legs was apparently too much for whatever there was of a nervous system.  He was however, also one of the most even tempered and sweet dogs I've ever met as well.  He used to bark periodically, but only when one of the other dogs began barking at something.  I really don't think Caleb ever actually knew why he was barking - it apparently just seemed like the thing to do.  At some point in his life, we believe that he was hit by a car.  He didn't run away often, but would periodically wander off if his gate was left open.  He came home with a bad limp one day that developed into a serious arthritic condition.  Before our move to our current house, it had gotten so bad that we nearly had him put down.  But the new back yard and lack of stairs he had to climb did wonders for him and he remained in workable health for another 8 years until the arthritis got the best of him.  He went to doggie heaven in March, 2002.  Everyone misses Caleb (except Nikki), but Caleb and Conan were especially close and she is still a bit lost without him.

Caleb is the one in the back.  That's Nikki on the right and Patty Cake on the left.  In the second picture, this is Caleb with one of Andrea's pet rabbits named Chelsea.