Dog or Diver?

I had Shaka my rotti, from the day she was born. I rescued her and her brothers and sisters from her extremely non-maternal mother Hunny and in order to get my promised pup, I helped out my mate and raised them all by bottle whilst working my job and raising my daughter. It was a task I can tell you, there were eight of them by the time their mum had killed a couple.

Four hourly bottle feeds for eight hungry pups, by the time I finished a feed it was almost time to start again. I didn't mind, it was a completely magical experience and there is nothing like having your dog from the day it is born. We made it through everyone found homes but Shaka chose me right from the start. We were inseparable and I can honestly tell you I never went anywhere without her. The longest we were ever apart was twelve days and I spoke to my mum everyday to check on Shaka as much as my daughter Taylor. Taylor would tell you I loved Shaka more than her, honestly not true trust me I love my daughter very much, but this dog she knew me and she could read my every move, my every thought.

Shaka was truly my best friend and although she is over the rainbow bridge now, she still walks at my back every single day literally. I had my nephew tattoo her paw on my back.

Shaka truly was woman's best friend.

So let me begin with the fact Shaka couldn't swim straight away I had to teach her. I smile thinking back on it, she took to it really quickly feeling;, I guess my connection to the water. I remember so clearly having to hold my hand under her belly gently coaxing her deeper and deeper until she got the hang of it. Oh good times.

We lived on the coast and were at the beach every single day, the story I share with you now is one hundred percent the truth and I swear I released that crayfish with absolutely no damage done to it, it swam off with no trouble at all.

So this beautiful summers day a group of mates went to fish and hang out on a quiet secluded only known by the locals beach while their town was over run with Summer visitors.

My daughter Taylor, my dog Shaka and myself among them. A barbeque was had and some drinks, the kids were all playing and swimming it was a great family occasion to be perfectly accurate.

Well my mate and I took Shaka for a spin in the boat, a small crayfish was caught accidently and we of course threw the tiny creature back. Imagine our surprise when Shaka, who could swim like a seal by now dived over the side after this tiny crayfish!

We began to call her but she was under the water and grabbing that fish just before it escaped her. It was the craziest thing we had ever seen in our lives. By now all those on shore had caught on and could see Shaka as she surfaced tiny cray in her mouth. We called and called trying to get her to return to the boat, but no she headed straight for the shore to show off her catch.

The children were all squealing in utter delight at seeing a dog catch her own crayfish. The adults were all astonished and to be truthful, I'd seen Shaka could do some pretty cool things but this took the cake! I was so proud. Everyone was telling me what a legend she was and I of course knew that.

I quickly snapped a couple of photos before gently taking the crayfish from her, what was incredible was she had not punctured or damaged it in anyway at all and she was being so gentle with it! I released the crayfish in about knee deep water and it took off quickly, lucky for it because if I'd not grabbed Shaka as she bounded after it, she would have caught it again and I can't guarantee the cray would have made it out so well.

She truly was a legend of a dog.