Kali came to America from Taiwan wearing a black Martingale type collar. It was the only collar she ever wore once she joined founded our pack. I never felt the need to replace it. Why would I? It was sturdy and practical. And it was also a subtle representation of Kali’s journey to America. I am not sure if it was a collar she wore the entire time she was in rehab in Taiwan. or if it was put on her as she was placed into her crate and loaded onto the plane. Either way it was special to Kali and I and she wore it until the day she crossed over The Bridge. I was also never one to accessorize my girls with bling; whether it be fancy or colorful collars, leashes, or (gasp) sweaters.

Now having said all that, Kloe did have several different collars with colorful patterns. But Kloe was Holly’s Puppy. Holly drove the decision to adopt her. She chose Kloe from the litter of three puppies ⁽¹⁾ , and she assumed main responsibility for training and early development. If it had been up to me I would have chosen a black martingale collar for Kloe and that would have been it. But this was Holly’s girl and Holly likes colors. Similarly, Koda also wore colorful collars. Again, a black Martingale would have been my choice but I again deferred to Holly. So Koda wore a variety of new and hand me down collars that Kloe wore as a puppy. ⁽²⁾

A few weeks ago I was going through some old collars (imagine that) and other dog tack and items to donate. In that box I found Kali’s collar. That same black Martingale she wore every day until the day she crossed the bridge. I had not seen it since then. I was immediately taken back. I put the collar to my nose hoping that it still held Kali’s scent. There was a very small tuft of Kali’s blond hair stuck on the collar. I stroked that tuft lovingly.

The collar was a present from the past. A present full of memories and love. I don’t remember why we stored it away versus placing it in a place of honor or near her box of ashes. In retrospect I am glad we didn’t because it made finding it three plus years later that much more special.

Kali’s collar is now draped on the side of one of my favorite photos of her that. have in my office. I think it will stay there forever. It will always be a special and prized possession; an artifact of Kali’s journey to me and with me.

Kali’s Collar

Footnotes

⁽¹⁾ True Love Rescue. Kloe and Koda were adopted through the same rescue group that Kali came from. That group is True Love Rescue (TLR). TLR rescues primarily Golden Retrievers and partners with a group in Taiwan to bring these Goldens to America and into the arms and hearts of responsible and committed families. Shortly before Kloe was adopted, TLR In addition to dogs from Taiwan, began rescuing puppies from back yard breeders who are only in it for the money and sometimes keeps the puppies and their mother in less than desirable living conditions. TLR will buy entire litters of puppies to and place them with committed families. They do great work and have rescued and placed hundreds of dogs over the years.

⁽²⁾ Collar Incident. Kloe and Koda have not worn collars for many years now. Several years ago we had a major scare. It was a summer night and we were sitting out in the back at dusk. Our lighting at the the time was not very good and we sat in mostly darkness. Kloe and Koda were running around and playing. They sometimes – especially back then – play rough. All of a sudden we hear that high yip that dogs make when they are in pain. We ran in the dark to where they were playing and found that Kloe’s collar still around her neck, had somehow got wrapped around Koda’s jaw. The collar was in a figure 8 shape with half of it around Koda’s jaw and the other half still around Kloe’s neck and very very tight. Both girls were scared and probably in a bit of pain. The collar was so tightly wrapped we thought we would have to cut if off. But that would mean getting scissors or a very sharp knife very close to Kloe’s flesh. Fortunately the collar that Kloe was wearing (a very colorful one of course) was a flat collar with a clip. But that clip was on the part of the collar that was wrapped so tightly around Koda’s Jaw. As Holly and I navigated this very scary and dangerous situation the girls sat very still and quiet seemingly aware of the gravity of the situation. I stayed holding the girls while Holly ran to get scissors. We had to try something.

As carefully as she could Holly got the scissors under the collar that was wrapped tightly around Kloe’s neck. She was breathing but it was so tight we were scared she might not be for long. In both of our minds Holly and I thought, without saying to each other, that we may lose one or both of our precious girls if we don’t do something quick. We tried using the scissors to make a cut but those collars are very tough and it was not going well. With a little bit of luck, tenacity, and a lot of love Holly worked her fingers into the bottom of Koda’s jaw and was able to unclip the collar. Whew!

The collar was set free! Holly was crying. I sat there stunned and so grateful that we averted a potentially life threatening situation. As for the girls they immediately ran off and contued their play as if nothing had happened!

So yeah, Kloe and Koda no longer wear collars.

On Saturday morning of Memorial Day Weekend in 2014 I woke up without dog in my life. 12 hours later I was at San Francisco International Airport rolling a crate out of the International terminal to the parking lot and my life has not been the same since.

Kali, along with 23 other Golden Retrieves, had just landed after a 12 hour flight from Taiwan. She was the dog in the crate I was rolling through the terminal. We made it to the parking lot where the rescue group’s volunteers were processing the dogs and helping the adopters meet their new Goldens. I opened Kali’s crate and connected a leash as she emerged. We walked quickly to the edge of the parking lot and she peed. We loaded her into our SUV and drove home to Livermore.

That’s the short story. The long and more detailed story has been told through this blog over the past eleven years.

So here I sit on another Memorial Day remembering Kali, and remembering that evening at the airport where we first “met”.

We arrived back home in Livermore around 11:00 PM. Still on leash I walked Kali around our front yard, and then the back. We weren’t sure how she would act over night so I tethered her to the post of my bed and she laid down on her mat. Sometime in the middle of the night she nudged me with her wet nose. I took her out to pee and then re-tethered her to the bed. The next day we spent in the backyard and as Kali got familiar with her new home and surroundings I began this blog.

It didn’t take long for Kali to get acclimated. From the first day she was respectful of the house. It was immediately clear she wouldn’t need to be crated. We left it out for a few weeks in case she wanted or needed a safe space of her own. But Kali didn’t. She just wanted to be by my side or laying down at my feet.

Honestly, that long and highly anticipated weekend was quite anit-climatic! No drama. No accidents. No problems. No nothing. Just a lot of love. After just 48 hours Kali was fully acclimated to our routines, the smells, the sounds, and was eating meals side by side with my daughters 11 pound Morky (half maltise/half yorkshire terrier).

So that was one heck of a Memorial Day Weekend in 2014! I will never forget it or forget how my life was changed. That crate door opened, Kali emerged, and she immediately entered my open heart forever.

Nine Weeks To Nine Years

Kloe turned nine years old this past week. I kind of lost track and when I stopped to count the years it was nine. In fact when I went back to re-read the beginning of this paragraph I had actually typed “eight”. Nine is hard to believe but it is the truth and I am convinced the earth is spinning faster!

True to her breed, Kloe exhibits a lot of puppy-like behavior. She can still run like a gazelle. And she can catch a ball like a major league center fielder, always anticipating where the ball is going and will leap, with all of her feet in the air, to make the mid-air catch. Kloe has always loved playing ball!

Kloe’s muzzle is getting whiter and as much as I deny it, she is developing a sugar face. She sleeps longer and more soundly during the day, and especially after dinner. Her hip dysplasia has become more evident over time. When she gets up in the morning after a long nights rest she seems stiff as she rises and attempts to stretch the stiffness away. Holly often points it out to me referencing her dysplasia. And I say, no, she is stretching out her muscles like an elite athlete before taking on the day. But I know it’s her hips and also because she is getting older. I know that because I do the same thing in the morning! Kloe’s better at it than me but I usually win the test of whose bones are creaking more as we take our first few steps of the day.

So I guess Kloe and I are much alike. Earlier to bed, creaking bones, and both with muzzles turning more and more white with each passing year.

So how old is Kloe in Human Years?

The most common method used by pet owners to calculate a dog’s age relative to human years, although not accurate, has been seven years for every human year. In 2019 researchers from the University of San Diego, developed a much more accurate way measure dog’s age relative to human years. This formula, the researchers say, applies to dogs older than one. In other words once the dog turns one the math works. The formula is 16 x ln (where ln is the dog’s age) +31. To work out your dog’s “human” age, first enter the dog’s age then press ln on a scientific calculator. Then multiply the figure you get by 16, and finally add 31. When I do this for Kloe’s age which is nine, the result is 66.70.

Party?

On her birthday Kloe was lavished with love, delicious and healthy food, and lots of Belly scrubs and ear scratches. Wait – She gets all that every day! So there was no party. And I learned a couple of years ago she doesn’t want singing of happy birthday before she eats. “At the end of the day” Kloe’s birthday was just another day like any other. But you know, I think that’s how she wanted it. Just another day where she can protect her pack. Just another day where she can wrestle and play tug-o-dog with her sister Koda. just another day where she can lay by our feet and sleep soundly knowing her pack is safe for another day.

Happy Birthday Sugarlips!

Kloe: Nine Weeks To Nine Years