King Cheyenne of the Arctic

In Loving Memory:
King Cheyenne of the Arctic
"Cheyenne"
August 20, 1997 to October 12, 2005

It has taken me years to write this tribute to my best friend. Even after 3 years, I have a hard time writing anything about my beloved Binky, I hope I am able to write something that serves him justice.

There is that one dog that you will always remember. One dog that will forever make your heart whole but at the same time leave a huge hole in your heart when they leave this world. Cheyenne was that one dog for me. From the second I saw him I knew he was meant for me. He chose me, following me around while the other puppies played with each other, he came over and took a nap in my lap. He kissed my check and I knew my life would never be the same and it wasn't.

Cheyenne was named after my husband's 1972 Chevy Cheyenne Hot Rod. He was my constant companion, when nothing else in my life was constant. We traveled all thru the North West on tour with my husband's band. Cheyenne was always there. He lived to be by my side. The truth be told I think I needed him more then he needed me.

We finally settled down back in Alaska and started a family. After being the center of our world for 3 years, Cheyenne welcomed our first son with open paws.

He loved him so much. Cheyenne always slept in our bed, but when Daniel was sick he would sleep on the floor in Daniel's room, always watching him like a guardian angel.

Daniel developed RSV two times. Cheyenne stopped eating when Daniel was really sick. I had to lock him in a room with food so he would not get sick himself from not eating.

Daniel and Cheyenne quickly became completely inseparable. Infact finding pictures of Daniel without Cheyenne is very hard to do.

A few years later we welcomed our second son. Again Cheyenne was there with open paws. Patients, even though he was now nearly 6 years old.

Even as Cheyenne's time with us had been cut down tremendously with 2 children, he was completely content to be part of our growing family. He never complained, he understood. He was more human in thought at times. You could look in his eyes and tell he was an old soul.

At 5 years old Cheyenne and I started training for agility. While most danes are starting to slow down, he was still in his prime. After a break when I had Brandon, he picked right back up without missing a beat.

In July 2004, at nearly 7 years old, Cheyenne ran his first agility trial. He did wonderfully and looked beautiful! Just a few weeks later I could tell he was "off". I took him to the vet, who x-rayed his front left leg and gave me the devastating news. My happy, healthy Baby Binky had bone cancer. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't even cry. When I got home I broke down. How could a dog who was just running an agility trial have bone cancer? He ran that trial with cancer in his front leg. Those jumps must have been painful, but he never let me or anyone else know. He did what I asked of him and didn't think twice or about the pain he was going to be in, he did it because I asked. He would have ran thru fire for me if I asked. Everyone was surprised to find out he had cancer. I starting to research bone cancer and with the help of my wonderful vets we started to treat his cancer. I knew it was fatal dx, but I wanted to keep Cheyenne with me for as long as I could. As his body started to deteriorate his mind was still so strong. He was very comfortable up until the last few weeks of his life. The day Daniel bumped into his leg, trying to hug him and Cheyenne moved away I knew he was going soon. He would lay in the hall watching the kids play instead of in the room with them. It was like he was living his life from a distance instead of being in the middle of it like he always had. Cheyenne would have been happy to lay on the couch with no legs just to be with us. It became apparent to us that he was not going to tell us when he was ready to go. We kept x-raying his leg and when the cancer broke thru the bone it was only a matter of time before the leg broke under his weight. On October 12, 2005 I made the hardest decision, I released my baby from his painful body, so he could run free and watch us from the bridge. I laid on the couch for a week crying for you Baby Binky, I couldn't ever imagine a day without you. I knew the day would come, but never imagined it would be so soon. They say it gets easier, even after 3 years it hasn't gotten any easier. Just the though of you sends me into tears, but at the same time smile because of all the good times we had. You gave me 8 great years. You were there when my life changed in so many ways and I can't thank you enough for your love. You taught Oscar what it meant to be a part of our family and how to behave and I think you'd be proud of the great dog he has become. I'm so sorry I couldn't save you, I tried.

We loved you all your life and I will miss you the rest of mine.
Till we meet again beautiful Baby Binky...

Cheyenne running the Fourth of July Agility Trail Only weeks before we found out he had cancer.

What the bed was made??