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This is the beautiful angel, "Cheyenne" ... Ch.Crown Royal's Light at Hoka-Hey. She is a litter-sister
of the all-time top winning Akita, "Jagger", Ch.Crown Royal's Get Off My Cloud. Since
she arrived at nine weeks of age, we have always referred to her as
our 'perfect puppy'. She never does anything wrong - she is a
wonderful house dog, sweet, happy, healthy, and BEAUTIFUL! A very big
girl at 26", Cheyenne is fit and strong, and a powerful mover with stunning side
gait. She has an incredible bristling, luminescent white coat, low set
hocks, a double curled tail, beautiful small dark triangular eyes and
perfect little ears!
We're not the only ones that love Cheyenne; the judges seemed to think pretty highly of her too! She
finished her championship undefeated from her first point to her last, including four majors and three Best Of Breed
wins over Group winning specials!
Unfortunately, at 8 years of age, Cheyenne was diagnosed with VKH and other immune related affectations,
complicated by allergies. VKH is an auto immune disease. It's tragic, and
the worst part is that there is no test for it, no test to determine
carriers, and no cure. It would have been impossible to know as a puppy, as
a youngster, a two-year old, or as a ‘veteran’ of 7 that she
would get sick. It obviously can
show up later in life, so there is no way to clear a dog before
breeding. We will certainly cooperate with any foundation doing
research on this insidious enemy of our breed, and maybe some day there will
be a way to DNA test for it, and the mode of inheritance will be discovered.
Right now Cheyenne is responding to treatment and our hope is that she continues
to live a healthy, happy, comfortable life. We love her so very much.
* * * * * * *
On
February 26th,
2003, our beautiful Cheyenne lost her battle with VKH. She was 9 years old. There are no
words to express the deep sorrow and emptiness we feel, or the pain that
will be in our hearts forever. No
dog deserves to suffer and die the way she did, but especially not Cheyenne – the loving, sweet dog that wanted only to make us
happy.
Our most sincere thanks to Nicki Stewart who did so much for Cheyenne in the last couple of years. Everyone that knew Cheyenne understands there will never be another like her, and we
know heaven now glows with a special new light. Goodbye my beautiful big
girl with the widest of smiles. I’ll always remember the day you
arrived like it was yesterday. You deserved so much, yet asked for so
little. You were our perfect puppy, Cheyenne, and you always will be. I love you dearly.
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