"Misty"
Morning
Mist Wakon
CH Wakon's
Arctic Wolf X Wakon's Karaya
2/11/79 - 12/16/89
Owner Billie Stewart
Open Letter to those who share our sorrow:
Dear Friends,
This letter is to let you know our beloved Misty
died during the night of Saturday, December 9th. She would have been
eleven years old in January. Misty went into her house, laid
down with her back to the door, and her spirit went to join the mountain
mist for which she was named.
We fell in love with her Sire, CH
Wakon's Arctic Wolf, and waited impatiently for her arrival. She
was pick bitch of the litter and was everything we could have hoped for.
It was Misty who taught us what a Malamute was really all about.
She soon became Alpha dog and continued her reign for over ten years. Her
intelligence and her wisdom never ceased to amaze us, the 2-leggeds who shared
her world.
Misty was Wakon, having the massive
size and laid back temperament for which the Wakon's were known at the
time. We bred her
to Tobe's Big Bad John, a "Jake" son, CH Karohunta's Skymaster, one of the
greets of our breed. It was a complete outcross as Misty was from
the ToAlaKen line and Big Bad John was from the Kadora/T'Domar lines.
From this union, we kept "Wayeh," Wayeh
Needa Mist, TT, ROM, OB-ROM and "Laz," Lazerus Wayeh, with
Wayeh becoming
our first show dog. We then named our kennel for Wayeh. Misty
was spayed, never having another litter. She supervised and socialized
the rearing of every other puppy we had, whether from our breeding or from
a stud fee puppy out of Laz. She was a very "paws on" leader.
We all had meaningful
two-way
conversations with Misty
over the years. There was no doubt that Misty often read our
minds and anticipated our actions. During this last summer, Misty
developed a cyst over her left front knee, and I promised her I would not
do anything about it. However, the nodule grew, and grew, and although
incapacitated, she was in good spirits. Although she wad difficulty
getting up an down, she always responded to us -- greeting us when we came
home from work. Our favorite photographer visited about Thanksgiving.
Misty rose to the occasion, enjoying the special attention of being photographed. The week before
Misty passed, she had a thorough
checkup at our vet's. He pronounced her in good health, except for
arthritic joints. The lab studies were all within normal range --
her heart and lungs were OK, and the x-ray of her leg indicated a soft
tumor with no bone involvement. She was scheduled for surgery to
remove the tumor on December 11th -- but Misty had her own agenda
to keep. It did not include surgery.
Our Native American friends tell us that
I one lives a good life, one can choose the time and place of one's death. Misty
made her choice, passing on in her sleep.
Misty's granddaughter's have excelled
in obedience. Her great-granddaughter "Finder," CH Wayeh's Wayfinder Atali,
her grandson "Cherokee," CH Wayeh's Cherokee Brave,
CGC, TT, TDI,
and her great-grandson "Sky." CH Wayeh's Kentucky
Skywalker,
have become our first, second and third champions. The joy and companionship
Misty
brought us will forever be with us. We look forward to continuing Misty's
legacy at Wayeh Kennels.
Bon Voyage, Misty. We know your
spirit is running up and down the valley chasing cows and hunting critters.
We glimpse you watching us as we go about our yard chores. We will
take care of your descendants until the time comes for us to be united
again.
Sadly,
Horace and Billie
Stewart
December 1989
Pictures
Wayeh
Alaskan Malamutes
