Knika
by Joan Cripps

Knika came to us in 1997 after months of searching the Internet for a Samoyed. She arrived from Toronto at the Moncton Airport on Sunday May 4, 1997. On her arrival at eight-weeks-old, she was a beautiful bundle of pure white fur. She was "The Versatile Smiling Beauty." Vanderbilt's Royal Knika is her full name.

She immediately won our hearts, but little did we know of the many adventures and mishaps ahead for her . . . and us!

At 10 weeks she got lost while with the family miles from our camp picking May flowers. After anxious hours of searching for her, we went back to the camp and there she was sitting on the steps. This was the beginning of three years of fun, excitement and frustration. (After three years she was perfect J She will be seven in May.)

In telling of all her mishaps you will probably think she wasn’t well cared for, but let me tell you there isn’t a dog more loved than Knika.

When she was young she wouldn’t stay in the house, now she won’t stay outside. She has a pen (10’x14’). When young she would stay in her pen where she could see everyone coming and going, but now balks when I try to put her in here. Knika loves people (except the poor mailman or anyone who touches the mailbox).

At our camp we give her a little more freedom, and she knows the words "stay yard", but that doesn’t mean she always listens though (dogs are so much like children)

One day she was chasing a snake that slithered into a chipmunk’s burrow. Knika got her nose in after it and the snake bit her nose. She left it alone after that. So many incidents with Knika and so many times she near got her walking papers, as things that happened to her always ended up costing a bundle.

A fight with Mr. Porcupine, and the hospital had to be opened on a Sunday night with the Vet and two assistants working on her. Hauling hubby’s suit off the line and chewing it to smithereens, landscaping done over with holes near a foot deep, both hind lags with ligaments completely severed, had to be wired and screwed to the bone, but she can now run like the wind.

Carpet taken off back steps twice, and that didn’t go over too well with hubby, who when he saw it was so mad he jumped in the car and backed into son’s truck . . . you can take a guess at what that cost.

But she also brought great joy and amazement. Knika likes to sing, we found this out when I asked her to sing for a treat, also she harmonizes with the coyotes at night at the camp.

She has her favorite spots in the house, and loves to sit on her chair and look out the window.

She likes to get her picture taken. One day our granddaughter came to the camp with friends to go fishing. They wanted to get their picture taken with their fishing rods, so the girls lined up. Knika got a branch and came and lined up with them.

I ‘m not sure who has who trained, but I sure love her, and like the children it is "unconditional love." 

Little did we know what we were getting into when she arrived, but now wouldn’t trade her for anything . . .

She opened up a whole new chapter in the lives of two people whose children had all left the nest.

He used to say with a gleam in his eye.
"I sure hope that when I die
I get to come back as a Sammy pup.
And be a great dog when I grow up".

She'd answer, "You're really a dog at heart.
The way you always take their part,
But if you're as great as you hope to be,
I hope that you'll belong to me."

So when his number came up, one early morn,
About he same time a new litter was born,
(Best possible sire--most beautiful dam)
She was sure he was back, as a baby Sam.

That was a beautiful litter, but she played a hunch,
And picked for her the Runt of the bunch.
A feisty pup, with big brown eyes;
He'd tackle anything twice his size.

With a wag of his tail, and a smile on his face,
As he grew in beauty, and style and grace.
That Sam was a vision, with a special glow,
And wherever he went, he went Best in Show.

He piled up the wins, and in three shows flat,
Gained his title — You can't top that.
He was a gorgeous dog, with a beautiful soul.
The perfect Sam — Her lifetime goal.

While he took it all in his graceful stride,
Loved all the envy, enjoyed all the pride,
She was sure the Spirit of her Man
Lived in this pup, this fabulous Sam.

Then a beautiful bitch went ambling by,
And she caught that gleam in a big brown eye:
So she grabbed that dog, and her step never faltered.
On the way to the vet, to have him altered.

Joan Cripps is a frequent contributor to Bread ‘n Molasses and writes a monthly column that asks What are you doing next month? To comment on this article email rayjoanc@nbnet.nb.ca

Bread ‘n Molasses invites you to tell about your pets and their antics. Send your stories to editor@breadnmolasses.com