Kiki has been our loyal friend and companion for over 15 years. She was a wedding gift from dear friends (Rob Nagel, Nancy and Jim Mires, Beth Cunningham-Brugger and Michelle Caster) and she never stopped loving us from the start. We saw a sweet dog like her in Vancouver while on our honeymoon and when we got back, went in search of an eskimo. She came with a beautiful name, Kiana Summer Snow Eskimo, but her original two-legged mom called her “Skeeter” short for mosquito since she was always buzzing around. We quickly changed that to Kiki! Soon after she came home, we realized she needed another companion so her sister Yampa, a gorgeous German Shepherd, became part of the family at eight weeks of age. Kiki was overjoyed when Rick brought Yampa into the back yard, she barked with delight and kept running back and forth to us as if to say thank-you, thank-you, thank-you! She taught Yampa the ropes of how to use the dog door, walk up and down stairs, when food and treat times were and in general, how things went around the Dixon house. She clearly was the alpha girl and kept Yampa in line! Yampa would eventually teach Kiki how to howl like a shepherd and we would then engage in “family howls” from time to time altogetehr!!! She was depressed (and so were we!) when Yampa passed close to 9 years later (11/27/2007) of bone cancer. The two of them were best friends and when they went to be kenneled, they mostly played with each other. About six months after Yampa crossed the Rainbow Bridge, Rick found her a companion from Every Creature Counts, a beautiful girl named Norma, a senior English Black Lab. We had to change that name because it did not quite fit so Will, Kiki’s two-legged brother, suggested Miley and it was perfect. Miley and Kiki bonded and Kiki seemed quite happy to have another dog to boss around. They were great friends for 4 years until Miley suddenly passed (3/10/2012) from an enlarged heart, breaking our hearts again. Kiki has continued to enjoy being around other dogs and as such, we sent her to Wagmore’s Social Canine Club for day care so she could be around other faithful companions. She met two-leggeds there as well, Andrea and Sherrie, who cared for her lovingly.
Over the years, Kiki was a vital part of the family, often taking us for walks and hikes. She did a number of high peak climbs in her young years prior to the birth of her two-legged brother Will, like Mt Bierstadt, where a large bernese mountain dog appeared from no where and led us to the top because he liked Kiki’s company. It was a cold, wintery day so we appreciated that he guided us! Kiki’s brother Will, the two-legged, is very active in sports and to Kiki’s credit, she never missed a game that was played outdoors that she could attend (some places are not dog friendly). Over the past 15 years she loved watching Will play soccer, football, run track, shot put, high jump or what ever activity was going on. Just two Saturday’s ago, she had a double header: she attended Will’s last soccer game of the season as well as his Regional USATF cross country race all in one day.
I could go on and on but will let this rest for now. I am grateful to have been able to be here with her through her final days and hours. She faced cancer courageosly with grace, guts and style.
We love you, sweet Kiki!