Dog Lover

I didn't have work today... still had to get up early in the morning to wake up the kids and take Moya to the vets.

After the dog was dropped off at 7 a.m. and the kids had jumped on the bus at 7:40 a.m. I promptly went back to bed. I slept until 11 a.m. (haven't been feeling too good).

I got up and took a shower and cleaned up a little today. I received a phone call to pick up Moya after her comprehensive exam. Glad to know she is healthy, though she has lost 3 lbs. since her last appointment. She could easily gain weight and still be healthy. She is extremely active and that is why she is so slim.

There were a lot of people at the vet hospital and Moya received lots of compliments. She is a beautiful husky. I get a little suspicious of some people when they start asking questions like:

"How much did you pay for her?" or

"Is she a pure husky?"

As a result, I drove home constantly looking in my rear view mirror to make sure that I was not being followed. Aurora, our first husky, had been stolen from the yard when she was 2 years old. We recovered her a little over a year later.

True husky owners ask questions like:

"Do you have other animals?"

"How do they get along?"

"Has your husky killed any other animals?"

Huskies are known for several things:

• They are great runners and will run for several miles without stopping.
• They are great sledders and love to pull.
• They love to hunt and will remember where they last saw their favorite prey.
• They are pack animals and are happiest when they are with their family.

When we take the dogs for a walk - Moya loves to run and has a tendency to pull me. A harness works great and I can keep her close to me without choking her.

When we get to the park or the ball field I let her loose to run and chase.

Moya still likes to hunt the animals in the backyard. Our best hunter was Aurora. She used to track the gophers in the backyard and could scoop them out of the ground and toss them up in the air before she would kill them. She also caught a hawk taking off in flight from the fence. Aurora knew where all the hen houses were in the neighborhood and would take off from the yard for a regular chicken fix.

She was dubbed the "Chicken Killer" by the pound. She was extremely expensive to maintain because of the usual fees when picking her up.

This past Saturday, we dropped Moya off at the groomers. When she was done, we picked her up and allowed her back in the house. She hung out with us the rest of the day Saturday and all day Sunday. When I picked her up from the vet, she couldn't stand being outside while I was inside.

I reported to Victor:

"Moya is healthy and the doctor says she is a little thin. She has also begun howling today, expressing her desire to come into the house."

Victor said:

"At least she has learned to howl."

Moya never howled before. Fleur used to do all the howling. Her howl was low and mellow. Moya's howl is a higher pitch that drops to a low pitch.

Moya is a good companion and I enjoy spending time with her. She is mellow for a husky and she does not stress me out like Fleur or Sparky. Fleur is too high-strung and Sparky too strong.

Moya sleeps in my room and her favorite spot is under my bed on my side or right up against the bedroom door. If Victor leaves the room, she jumps up on the bed and lays down on his spot. It's kind of funny. I laugh when Victor returns to the room. He just gives her the look and states "DOWN." and she hops off.

Huskies can live 15 - 16 years or longer. I expect that I will have Moya for a very long time. Victor and I have learned a lot about huskies and they have become our preferred pet. I am pretty sure that we will replace "Sparky" with another husky when he passes away. That may be some time yet. He is currently 9 years old and is very strong and healthy. He could easily live another 10 years.

I can't imagine being without a dog at any time in my life.