(Melody)
June 3, 1992 to July 25, 2005
Melody was born under a piano at Linda Boyd's home (Tovik Siberians). We first saw her when we were looking for a pup and had gone down to Alice Watt's Kossok Kennels to meet Alice, see her dogs and see when she might have a puppy available. As we were leaving that day my husband commented on the lovely, calm looking Siberian in one of the kennels. He was impressed that she was just calmly watching the visitors while the rest of the dogs were jumping and making lots of noise. "That's Melody, a two year old who didn't work out for show. She's available to a good home." Alice looked at us hopefully. But we weren't sure about adopting an adult when we had our hearts set on a puppy. Alice had told us she would have a litter of puppies in a couple of months out of "Shiner," a beautiful red boy, and pretty Kossok's Foolish Heart -- November. We planned to wait for a puppy from that litter and left without Melody. But like a pretty melody we couldn't get her out of our minds and two days later we called Alice and told her we were coming to get Melody.
The fly in the ointment was Tasha who was also two years old and definitely not ready for another dog in the house. We had hoped she would welcome a companion after Sashka died....but we were mistaken. After breaking up several vicious dog fights over the next week we reluctantly decided that Melody had to go back to Alice. Alice had assured us that she would take her back if she didn't work out. When I called Alice she said she would certainly take her back but asked me to give it one more try and she gave me some suggestions on what to do.
So, determined to make this work we had Siberian boot camp where both Tasha and Melody learned that I was top dog and the Top Dog would not tolerate fighting by the lower order dogs. That was a very long day of watching the pair of them like a hawk and disciplining them both if either showed any sign of hostilities. At the end of the day the girls had accepted one another as pack mates.
When we did bring that puppy home (Shadow Dancer) Mellie became "Aunt" Mellie. She patiently let Shadow maul her and never lost her temper with the impertinent pup. As Shadow grew older Mellie became her best playmate.
Mellie was part of many adventures with the Pack and she gamely struggled to keep up right to the end. Sunday morning (July 24th) when Mike and the other three headed downstairs to go for a walk Mellie surprised Mike by coming down the stairs to join her pack. She only had enough strength to go half a block but she insisted on going that far.
Monday morning she had toast and eggs with Michael. She was his breakfast partner these last months. Above is one of the last pictures taken of her that day. A few hours later our vet came over and helped her on her way to the Rainbow Bridge. She slipped away peacefully a little after 4 pm. Sashka, Mishka, Magnum and Tasha were there to welcome her to the Rainbow Bridge and to show her the best places for a snooze and to hunt for prey while they wait for the rest of their "pack" to join them and finally cross the Bridge together.
God speed little one....wear your silver harness with pride.
