For Honjo

[reeskujo]

Back in 2001 my late husband was killed(Happily remarried)But our Akita Honjo was devistated.He refused to eat,drink water and wouldn't bother with anyone but me.Then in 2002 when he turned 5 he came down with cancer.We tried treatment but the vet said that because of the depression he was going through do to my husbands death he just didn't have the will to fight and he was suffering so I put him down.Honjo was my best friend and such a loyal and devoted dog.I got him at 8 weeks old and cherished every moment he was in my life.His picture hangs on my wall,I had a t-shirt made with his name and picture and although I have another wonderful Akita and several years have past not a day goes by I don't miss and grieve for him.....So Honjo,this is for you.May you no longer be sufferring and may you be running free and know that mom still loves and misses you.You were there for me when I needed you most and I hope that Rainbow Bridge is bringing you the peace and comfort you brought to me when I need it most...Love Mom

[ClarkFarm]

Your story brought tears to my eyes. I am sure your late husband and Honjo are together now and keeping an eye on you as well.

I was married, had my first son, and widowed within one year. That was 1998.
I remarried in 2000, my husband adopted my son and we had two more sons together. Candy had been my "last link" so to speak of my previous life and late hubby.

[reeskujo]

That's how it was for me to.I'm sure their together and I often think that it was Honjo who put Kujo in my life as they have many similar qualities and in the area of Florida I lived in when I rescued Kujo,Akita's are pretty much unheard of.Most people there don't know what type of dog they are,so I think My Honjo had a hand in it!

[ClarkFarm]

Sure sounds as though Kujo was meant for you. I am so glad you found each other.

[reeskujo]

Thanks,me to.He brings me so much joy and gives me such unconditional love.He makes Honjo's loss much easier to cope with.He's very close to my husband as well but even hubby knows he's my baby and he's much closer to me.This is my husbands first expereience with an Akita and he's just inlove with the breed so we're on a rescue waiting list for a female now.Your right though!Kujo is totaly meant for me and I thank God for finding him everyday!

[Patch O' Pits]

HUGE hugs for you.

I'm sure your baby is playing with my Sock-M as they look down proudly watching over us each day

[reeskujo]

Thanks Patch,I'm sure your right and hugs right back at ya,I'm sorry I didn't know Sock-M passed.I hope it was peaceful.At least she's not suffering anymore and I bet her and Honjo became fast friends.I was really pulling for her.

[GSP4619]

Beautiful post reeskujo.

[Nancy]

Thank you for being there for me during my time of grieving. Your post helped remind me of the process we need to go through. I'm starting to smile a little at things that Annie used to do. I know that she'll be in my heart forever, just like your wonderful dog is in yours.

Wishing you the best.

[Sibe]

"...May you no longer be sufferring and may you be running free and know that mom still loves and misses you.You were there for me when I needed you most and I hope that Rainbow Bridge is bringing you the peace and comfort you brought to me when I need it most...Love Mom"

Honjo sounds like a lovely dog. I think that he may still be watching over you. And he isn't in any pain now. Sorry for your losses. I do not know what we would do without the love of our dogs...

[reeskujo]

Nancy,no thanks needed.I know how you feel and we're all here to support each other.Feel free to pm me if you want to private.Sibe thanks for the wonderful post.He really was a great dog.I couldn't have made it through such a hard time with out his love.

[d'tails]

I know he is happily palying with my Akitas Bandit and Rita. And you are right, not a day goes by without missing them. They never lived here together, but I have no doubt Bandit was waiting for Rita whe she crossed the rainbow bridge.

[reeskujo]

I agree d'tails.I'm sure their all happily running free together!

[d'tails]

Yup, noone telling them or their owners how dangerous they are. I was walking my Pinto female and this man drove up beside me and leaned out his window to tellme I had a dangerous dog and it should be shot like the other. We had just had an attck by an akita and the police had to shoot it. I was hopping up and down mad. Coward in his van, safe from me. He had more to worry about from me than her!!!

[reeskujo]

Amen to that d'tails.I've heard that crap so many times it makes me sick.My Kujo is so loving and friendly,all I have to do is say'It's ok be good boy",and he will lick you to death.If you tried to hurt me there's know doubt what he would do as guarding is one of the things they were bred for but if your not a threat he'll be your best friend.We have a pet rescue that brings dogs in to our store every weekend that are up for adoption and I asked one of the women if they came across many Akita's and she said they didn't take them because they were agressive.I told her'Yeah,about as agressive as a poodle".I asked when people were going to start realizing that all these breeds with a bad rap got it because the dogs doing damage weren't properly trained or socialize,that it wasn't the breed but the owner and that a poodle can be just as mean and agressive as an Akita if it isn't trained or socialized".I get so sick of hearing that garbage.I even hear it from my own mother,and mind you Kujo loves her.

[StarfishSaving]

We have a big Akita named Bruno who comes in to be bathed and his OWNERS are the ones giving him a bad image. The first time they brought him in, they muzzled him the second he came through the door and told us to be cautious with him beccause "he doesn't warn you, and he'll bite you!"

That dog is a big baby. Even in the highly stressful bathing situation (with the hydrosurge and force dryers there's so much noise and it's scary for dogs!) he is just fine. I muzzle him when I dry his ears because he tries to grab the dryer and isn't careful enough to not get my hand but he isn't going after ME. He's very calm and sweet, not aggressive at all though very confident in himself and I'm sure he'd bite if he felt the need.

Yet here his owners are coddling over him and telling everyone to stay back when he walks through, etc. *sigh*

[reeskujo]

That's exactly what I mean.I've brought Kujo to the groomers for the first time two weeks ago where I work and although I was cautious because it was a new enviorment,he'd never been groomed before and it was people he didn't know,but I certainly didn't muzzle him or tell the girls he's bite.He was very scared but was still very sweet to the girls and they couldn't believe what a big baby he was.They said he was sweeter then most of the little dogs they get in there.I would never say for sure he wouldn't bite because I know he would if someone tried to hurt me but never for any other reason.The only time he gets a little testy is if I take him to the vet without my husband and the vet or the tech is a male and that's because he's leary of strange men around me without my husband.Even then he'll growl for about a half a second and as soon as I tell him it's ok and be a good boy he settles right down because he knows I'm not afraid of the person.I think some people thinks it's cool to have a dog that will bite,like some kind of status symbol or something and half the time their full of it!Stupid people like that really tick me off!

[d'tails]

When I had Bandit and then later Rita, I was known for doing them. I had a lady that would reschedule if I did not have Rita. She would only pay Rita. Loved her almost more than her own dog. Rita would get on the counter and "wo-wo" and slap her paw for the payment. come to think of it, no one ever stiffed me then... lol MIss my babes.

[reeskujo]

Where I work I get to have Kujo fully groomed for free once a month.I bathe and dry him myself and this girl Tracy helps me with his nails and brushing his teeth and she made me promise I wouldn't bring him in until she got to work at 4:00.She loves working on him and all the girls are always thrilled when they know he's coming even though he cries like a baby when he's in the kennel waiting for daddy to pick him up...LOL

[reeskujo]

Well my sweet Honjo,it's been 5 years this month since You went over Rainbow Bridge and I still miss,cry and morn for you as much as I did the day we lost you.You were my pride and joy,my best friend and my most loyal companion.You always knew when I needed comforting and you were always there to give it.I hope now you have comfort and peace as I know now your free of pain.Just know that mom will never forget you,always thinks of you and will always love you for all the joy,comfort,peace and happiness you brought to me in your short 5 years.I love you big boy!Love Mom