May 25th, 2009

Today, we've recieved the sad news that Balou went over the rainbow. He suffered under an ossified disc in his neck region. This would've greatly reduced his joy of life, and his owner thought it best to let him go. He was nearly 7 years old.

Gesa, his owner, writes Balou this wonderful letter

                                                          To Balou

We were nearly 7 years together and you have been my best and grandest teacher  You have taught me the best way to teach and lead, and you were a milestone for me. Even before you, I had had other partners by my side, but you were the only one who taught me so very much.

You were never without control, you were careful about your reactions with other dogs, and were absolutely consequential. That is what I had learned from you. In the beginning, your way of thinking was for me, so to say, hard to digest. It brought me to the limits.  Your stubbornness and your way in which you "punished" me, when I was "unfair" to you, made me absolutely crazy at times!

But, you dear Balou, were always right.

One day, I'd understood what you'd meant and since then we went a long and wonderful path together.

Even though you were sick, you became a great search-and-rescuce dog and even saved the life of a human!

You were always ready for a round of playing and so souveraine when you were other dogs.....even though they may have growled at you or played rough and/or jumped about like crazy.

In the doggie-school, you were always ready for fun and did what was asked of you. You were freindy to every human, always joyfully greeting them. But, when it was possible, you were absolutely by my side. We two didn't need anyone, und we understood each other without words.

I thank you for this wonderful time which we were able to spend with each other and all that, which you had taught me

Yours truly,

 Gesa