Long-Dangerous Tails

I don’t mean to use Julie’s blog as a marketing tool, but this is just to cool not to share with other GSD lovers. My company, All Dogged Up, has just released a new poster of the German Shepherd Dog. The painting is done by one of my partners, the very talented artist, Barb Hranilovich. Julie shared her BSZS photos with Barb and I last weekend, and Barb’s painting was inspired by her images. We will be producing notecards with this image as well.

German Shepherd Guards Her Owner for 6 Weeks After He Dies

In an amazing display of loyalty, officials now believe a German shepherd dog stayed at her master’s side for six weeks after the man had killed himself out on the prairie.The dog, “Cash,” was found alive Sunday, next to the body of her master, Jake Baysinger, 25, a resident of La Salle before his life ended on the Pawnee National Grassland.When Baysinger was first reported missing and suicidal on June 28, the Weld County Sheriff’s Office conducted an extensive search on land and by airplane, but they were unable to locate Baysinger or his pickup. Undersheriff Margie Martinez said the pickup was found Sunday near the body, but it was in an area that was difficult to see from the road or air. The Pawnee National Grasslands contains almost 200,000 acres — about one-quarter the size of Rhode Island. He was found near the intersection of Weld County Road 73 and 104, northwest of Briggsdale.

The sheriff’s office and Weld County Coroner’s Office said the body may have been there for six weeks, and the dog stayed close by. There was evidence the dog ate mice and rabbits, officials said.The body was found Sunday because a rancher saw the dog and went to investigate, finding Baysinger’s body. Baysinger’s gun lay nearby, and it’s believe he shot himself.

On Monday, Sara Baysinger, the victim’s wife, took Cash home with her from the Humane Society of Weld County shelter. “At least we know it’s over now,” Sara Baysinger said. “We’d been looking for my husband for six weeks, and this isn’t how we wanted it to end, at least we can close this.”Sara Baysinger has a 2-year-old son, Lane, who was happy to see Cash come home. “He’s very close to that dog,” Sara Baysinger said. “He’s very happy to see (Cash).”

The dog was friendly when found, although she was thin and dehydrated, deputies said. She was checked at the humane society, and Baysinger said she had their own vet check the dog, also.Investigators also said the dog probably protected her master’s body by keeping coyotes away.

Sara Baysinger of La Salle sits with Cash, the family’s 3-year-old German shepherd who was rescued Sunday and taken to the Humane Society of Weld County. Baysinger said that Cash is in surprisingly good health considering the six weeks she survived on her own. Photo by Sara Loven Greeley Tribune

Here is a picture of Ellen (along with Stephen and Stu) holding Max

the day we brought him home. He sure got a lot of loving that day! He

really bonded with Stu…I think he thought he was a human sibling

and always remembered him.

My niece Ellen and her boyfriend were here this weekend. She was the
niece that came to meet Max at your place when he was a pup (she must
have been about 10). We had a great time. Here are some pix that I
took. I love her boyfriend…and he loves dogs!

Tollhaus Roberto Benigni
AKA Max; Maxi Pierre; King Dog
February 2, 1999-May 19, 2008

You bring home a puppy and the love sears so deep and the road seems

so stretched out in front of you. Our years together passed like a

heartbeat.

Julie will tell you she had her doubts about our suitability as pet

owners. She thought she might have Max back within a few days. She

was wrong. Brad and I fell madly, deeply, irrevocably in love. As the

old saying goes…I stuck my toe in the pond and was in up to my

neck. Within three years I had two more dogs. In 2004 came the fourth.

What can I say about Max that can bring him to life for you? He was

the King of the pack. A benevolent leader whose authority was never

challenged. I called him my David Niven dog—he was so elegant and

dignified and displayed impeccable manners. Whenever I left home his

charge was to “watch the house.” I would come back and he would leap

up from his favorite chair, give me the once over (where have you

been? what did you do? who did you meet?) and then lean into me and

rub against me like a gigantic kitty.
Honestly, he was an absolutely brilliant dog. Never have I known a

dog to try so hard to communicate. Brad and I swear he always knew

what we were saying—I know everyone says that—but with him it was

true! And he was protective. In a very subtle and effective way. If

he sensed discomfort on my part, he would place himself between me

and that discomfort. No display of brute force, just a quiet and

alert presence that could and would take care of business if necessary.

His absence is so loud it makes my head spin. The grief comes in

breath taking and body knocking waves. I try not to think what of him

I’ve lost…only everything I’ve gained. I will put one foot in front

of the other and walk through this pain, into numbness, and back to

feeling again.
A friend wrote that dogs live in the moment, unaware of their

mortality. That we gave Max a lifetime of beautiful moments. It is a

comforting thought and I pray that it is true. I know what he gave me

is beyond words—precious and forever.
God speed my gentle King. We’ll meet again on the other side.