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laika
'with a star in her tail'
17 oct 1989 - 12 mar 1999
AKC: WG375822
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![laika and her squeak](laika-m2.jpg) |
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"my heart has joined the thousand,
for my friend stopped running today"
richard adams, watership down |
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Laika was my first Samoyed and my first dog. Ever since I saw the photograph of a Samoyed in an AKC book, I knew
this was the breed for me -- that smile, that plumed tail, that attitude that said "I'm ready for anything: fun, work,
and by the way, feel free to throw your worst winter at me too." Laika was a gift from my now ex-wife. (How many of us
have dog relationships that outlasted human relationships? Come on, raise your hand.) She wouldn't have lasted 5
seconds in a show ring but neither of us minded. She was my true companion, eager to greet me at the door and always up
for a long walk or a game of fetch. At the time I was living in North Carolina and our winters tended towards
ice rather than snow but we enjoyed the occasional snowfall, pretending we lived up north somewhere.
I built my first web page for her, starting me down a path that would lead to me doing web-programming full-time for money. I became
interested in day-hiking with her, from which I found other fun things to do outside in the company of dogs.
She taught me to not take myself too seriously, that the true priorities in life lie outside of school and work.
When she died suddenly, at the too-young age of nine, I was devastated. I had never known the death of a soul so close
to me. She was my friend, my playmate, my little piece of winter in the seemingly endless summers of the south. I still miss her.
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Click on any thumbnail to pop up a larger image. |
![looks like a big world out there](laika-p1t.jpg) |
![puppy yummies](laika-p2t.jpg) |
![let me out!](laika-p3t.jpg) |
![laika's first home](laika-p4t.jpg) |
![standing tall](laika-p5t2.jpg) |
![hi there!](laika-p6t2.jpg) |
![almost naptime](laika-p7t.jpg) |
![whatever it is, i didn't do it](laika-p8t.jpg) |
![laika and her ball](laika-p9t.jpg) |
![laika and her ball #2](laika-p10t.jpg) |
![laika and her ball #3](laika-p11t.jpg) |
![laika discovers slippers](laika-p12t.jpg) |
![laika discovers sneakers](laika-p13t.jpg) |
![now what?](laika-p14t.jpg) |
![aren't you going to let me out?](laika-p15t.jpg) |
![who, me?](laika-d4t2.jpg) |
![first harp seal impression](laika-p16t.jpg) |
![a good place for a nap](laika-p17t2.jpg) |
![lunch](laika-p19t.jpg) |
![in the back yard](laika-p20t.jpg) |
![laika discovers mud!](laika-p21t.jpg) |
![i'm too old for this](laika-p22t.jpg) |
![on the back porch #1](laika-d1t.jpg) |
![too much fur!](laika-d2t.jpg) |
!['puter pook](laika-d3t.jpg) |
![on the back porch #2](laika-d5t2.jpg) |
![i'm coming, i'm coming!](laika-d6t2.jpg) |
![smiling bear](laika-d7t2.jpg) |
![serious bear](laika-d8t2.jpg) |
![bath time](laika-d9t2.jpg) |
![laika\'s first cat, fudge](laika-d10t2.jpg) |
![hanging out](laika-d11t.jpg) |
![laika's second cat, chiya](laika-d12t.jpg) |
![laika and ricq and snow](laika-d13t.jpg) |
![laika and chiya](laika-d15t.jpg) |
![sun dog](laika-d16t2.jpg) |
![hiding from thunder](laika-d17t2.jpg) |
![elyse and laika enjoy an ohio morning](laika-d18t.jpg) |
![chiya loves laika](laika-d19t.jpg) |
![on the road to ohio](laika-d20t.jpg) |
![slippery stairs](laika-d21t2.jpg) |
![a rough night for miss bear](laika-d22t.jpg) |
![my squeak is in here somewhere](laika-d23t.jpg) |
![laika and ricq](laika-d24t.jpg) |
![what are you looking at?](laika-d25t.jpg) |
![let's play](laika-d26t2.jpg) |
![still hanging out](laika-d27t.jpg) |
![cozying up with miss bear](laika-d28t.jpg) |
![harp seal impression](laika-d29t.jpg) |
![laika and her squeak](laika-d30t2.jpg) |
![all in the family](laika-d31t.jpg) |
![cold night in the apartment](laika-d32t.jpg) |
![digging in the snow](laika-d33t.jpg) |
![in the kitchen](laika-d34t2.jpg) |
![laika in the snow](laika-d35t2.jpg) |
![snow bear!](laika-d37t.jpg) |
![what's over there?](laika-d38t.jpg) |
![still digging in the snow](laika-d39t.jpg) |
![b(e)aring it all](laika-d40t.jpg) |
![feeling sleepy](laika-d41t.jpg) |
![munching carrots under the desk](laika-d42t.jpg) |
![listening to music](laika-d43t2.jpg) |
![soft fur](laika-d45t2.jpg) |
![at my parents'](laika-d46t.jpg) |
![a new squeak](laika-d47t2.jpg) |
![laika and her hedgie](laika-d48t.jpg) |
![how to drive your dog insane](laika-d49t.jpg) |
![in the cozies](laika-d50t.jpg) |
![bedtime?](laika-d51t.jpg) |
![laika and ricq #1](laika-d52t2.jpg) |
![laika and ricq #2](laika-d53t2.jpg) |
![laika and ricq #3](laika-d54t2.jpg) |
![yummy noodles](laika-d55t.jpg) |
![and still more laika and ricq](laika-d56t.jpg) |
![elyse has something laika wants](laika-d57t.jpg) |
![laika and her kitty](laika-d59t.jpg) |
![laika and her squeak](laika-d60t.jpg) |
![vacuuming miss bear](laika-d61t.jpg) |
![laika and ricq and snow](laika-d62t.jpg) |
![more laika and ricq and snow](laika-d64t2.jpg) |
![time to wake up](laika-d66t.jpg) |
![laika wearing her holiday bells](laika-d67t.jpg) |
![another harp seal impression](laika-d68t2.jpg) |
![snoozing under the desk](laika-d69t.jpg) |
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![last photo of miss bear](laika-d70t.jpg) |
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Click on any thumbnail to pop up a larger image. |
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