Ch. Kalevala Blithe Spirit, CGC, BIS, OHCA Hall of Fame, ROM
October 17, 2004-March 31, 2014.
October 17, 2004-March 31, 2014.
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Sadly we lost Maddie on March 31, 2014. Life will never be the same without her. Please see my comments below about what she added to our lives.
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Madison (Maddie) was born in our second litter. One of four puppies, Maddie was made for fun! Climbing out of the whelping box along with her sister Parker at an early age gave us a taste of the energy and enthusiasm she would have for life.
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There's nothing more fun than kids and puppies. We try to give our puppies experience with folks of all ages and certainly otterhounds have fun with children. This little girl is having her ponytail pulled by the puppy in the back, two puppies in her lap and one more behind her. Thanks, Ruthie for the socialization! This is Maddie's birth litter. She is shown with her 3 littermates.
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Madison, Best in ShowMaddie had a wonderful show career with highlights of a Best in Show win as well as a trip to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York City in February 2008. We are grateful to Nancy and Bryan Martin for the great show career Maddie had in their hands. When you watch the video, you will see Maddie fourth in line. She wins Best of Opposite sex.
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What a great mom!
Here's Maddie taking a break from her demanding brood but notice, she's still on patrol resting in the chair next to her whelping box. What a careful and conscientious mom!
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Maddie had tremendous insight into all the people that took home her puppies and gave each of them a thorough examination. Once she felt comfortable with them she was satisfied with them as a family for her babies. She mourned each puppy as they left but in her 2010 litter she had Allie remaining to be her lifelong companion.
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Now that she is totally retired, she has become the guardian of our acreage in Door county carefully monitoring the activities of the resident squirrels, deer and turkeys. She is quick to sound the alert when this wildlife attempts to raid our birdfeeders. She chases them off but they only try again another day. She loves this guard duty! She is also the instigator for pack singing when the crew is downstairs in our dog room.
Maddie on the left, Allie on the right
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Maddie enjoyed some special time with this little girl at the Door County Renaissance Faire in 2013.
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Ch. Kalevala Blithe Spirit, CGC, BIS, OHCA Hall of Fame, ROM
October 17, 2004 to March 31, 2014
In Remembrance
Have I told you how I loved her?
She came into the world in October unlike many of her kind.
Even from the beginning she showed us the exuberance she had for life.
Morning was greeted with a loud shriek of outrage that she had missed the activities of the night.
Of course that made her unpopular with our neighbors!
I thrilled with pride when I saw her on the stage of the dog show scene.
She moved around the floor with grace collecting up ribbons of blue, white, red and yellow with Nancy by her side.
Others liked to fault her, they told me she had too little this, too much that-- but all I could see was my lovely girl!
She came home and worked hard to please me—performing all that I could ask her—sit, down, come, stay.
As a mother she was unparalleled.
Her babies she protected fiercely never letting any out of her sight.
At night she would come and get me protesting the baby bed needed changing-her message was clear.
I followed her bidding and her dark brown eyes thanked me as she snuggled in with her brood.
Every family that claimed one of her pups was given serious scrutiny.
She climbed up on the couch looking into their faces, even to their ears. She seemed to know their intentions.
Once she gave her approval, she said goodbye and spent time in front of the door
Mourning until her resolve returned and she could face her remaining crew for care.
She was delighted to share life with her daughter when we decided to keep one.
Each time we released them for the day,
One waited for the other by the door
Maddie loved the ankle biting even as she protested every time.
Routine was her spice of life. 6:47 was her time to waken.
Treats followed a trip outside and back in.
Bringing out the lead meant time for a walk.
I loved her reminder, paw-lift to say “time for a bedtime snack”.
She lost her daughter March 9.
She knew her life would never be the same.
Then something terrible left her so diminished
Even the best doctors couldn’t restore her.
Her blithe spirit had left her
But hugging her goodbye
I knew her daughter was waiting for her just on the other side
Of the door to run and play forever more.
I’ll never stop loving you, Maddie, my girl.
Thanks to everyone at Veterinary Village, Lomira, WI and the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for all of the great care given to Maddie over many years.
Thanks to Nancy and Bryan Martin and Danielle Goodland for showing and caring for Maddie as only you could.
Thanks to Betsy Conway for teaching us about whelping puppies and Donna Emery for sharing Betsy with us.
Thanks to family and friends for caring.
All the Best,
Becky
Have I told you how I loved her?
She came into the world in October unlike many of her kind.
Even from the beginning she showed us the exuberance she had for life.
Morning was greeted with a loud shriek of outrage that she had missed the activities of the night.
Of course that made her unpopular with our neighbors!
I thrilled with pride when I saw her on the stage of the dog show scene.
She moved around the floor with grace collecting up ribbons of blue, white, red and yellow with Nancy by her side.
Others liked to fault her, they told me she had too little this, too much that-- but all I could see was my lovely girl!
She came home and worked hard to please me—performing all that I could ask her—sit, down, come, stay.
As a mother she was unparalleled.
Her babies she protected fiercely never letting any out of her sight.
At night she would come and get me protesting the baby bed needed changing-her message was clear.
I followed her bidding and her dark brown eyes thanked me as she snuggled in with her brood.
Every family that claimed one of her pups was given serious scrutiny.
She climbed up on the couch looking into their faces, even to their ears. She seemed to know their intentions.
Once she gave her approval, she said goodbye and spent time in front of the door
Mourning until her resolve returned and she could face her remaining crew for care.
She was delighted to share life with her daughter when we decided to keep one.
Each time we released them for the day,
One waited for the other by the door
Maddie loved the ankle biting even as she protested every time.
Routine was her spice of life. 6:47 was her time to waken.
Treats followed a trip outside and back in.
Bringing out the lead meant time for a walk.
I loved her reminder, paw-lift to say “time for a bedtime snack”.
She lost her daughter March 9.
She knew her life would never be the same.
Then something terrible left her so diminished
Even the best doctors couldn’t restore her.
Her blithe spirit had left her
But hugging her goodbye
I knew her daughter was waiting for her just on the other side
Of the door to run and play forever more.
I’ll never stop loving you, Maddie, my girl.
Thanks to everyone at Veterinary Village, Lomira, WI and the University of Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for all of the great care given to Maddie over many years.
Thanks to Nancy and Bryan Martin and Danielle Goodland for showing and caring for Maddie as only you could.
Thanks to Betsy Conway for teaching us about whelping puppies and Donna Emery for sharing Betsy with us.
Thanks to family and friends for caring.
All the Best,
Becky
