Shiver
Date of Birth - May ? 1997
Date of Death - April 30, 2012 age around 15
Height - 21"
Weight - about 45 lbs.
Spayed female
Mutt
Shiver has a unique story. She came along years and years before the sled dogs, back when we only had one golden retriever.
One cold, windy, drizzly October day my husband and I found ourselves at a resort on Lake of the Woods in Ontario, Canada. We were supposed to be fishing for musky, but a stiff west wind popped up with gusts around 35 mph, creating 5-6' waves on that lake. Needless to say, we didn't go out fishing. We took a short walk to a rocky point to watch the waves crash. Then the guys went back to the cabin to drink coffee.
Me, I'm way too antsy to just sit around all day, so even though it was miserable out I went for a walk. A short distance from the resorts I came upon their collective garbage site, a dumpster enclosed in a chain link fence to discourage the marauding bears. And there she was - this adorable, sopping wet puppy, chewing on a grouse tail left over from some hunter's cleanings. She looked up at me as if to say, "Look! Won't I make a good bird dog some day?" The day was completely miserable - about 40 F and raining. She wagged her tail and seemed friendly, so I petted her. As we were getting acquainted, the garbage lady pulled up, emptied the dumpster, and gave the puppy a partially-eaten cheese sandwich, which she wolfed down without chewing it. Then she drove off.
As I stood there contemplating what to do, two women from the nearby rez drove up. "Is this your puppy?" I asked them. "No", they replied, "it's been here for about two weeks."
"Need another dog?" I asked.
"No thanks!" they replied. "We already have two!" they then drove off.
Our good friend had just lost his Irish Setter - I figured I couldn't leave her there, maybe he would take her. I picked the puppy up, and she was shivering violently. "I should call you Shiver" I said to her, and the name stuck.
We walked into the cabin and I could see it in my husband's eyes - it took less than five minutes and he caved. His friend was just wondering out loud minutes before I came in the door. "Ruthie always finds something cool on her walks - I wonder what she'll bring back this time?" (my last excursion had yielded a moose jawbone). I'll never know who that kind veterinarian in Fort Frances was who stayed after his last appointment just to give Shiver the proper vaccinations, but if he ever reads this, I hope he knows that he allowed us to keep the best dog we'll ever own.
Shiver turned out to be a very good grouse dog, indeed. We don't know anything about her heritage - although we are almost positive it involves at least one Golden Retriever - and I strongly suspect a Border Collie or some other type of herding dog.
Shiver - or "Little One" or "Divver Dog" or "Squid" will be sorely missed. Longevity being what it is in mutts, her body gave out long before her spirit ever did. I won't ever be able to pick up a shotgun again without thinking of my best hunting companion. You are in the arms of Jesus now, my dear - run well!!
Date of Death - April 30, 2012 age around 15
Height - 21"
Weight - about 45 lbs.
Spayed female
Mutt
Shiver has a unique story. She came along years and years before the sled dogs, back when we only had one golden retriever.
One cold, windy, drizzly October day my husband and I found ourselves at a resort on Lake of the Woods in Ontario, Canada. We were supposed to be fishing for musky, but a stiff west wind popped up with gusts around 35 mph, creating 5-6' waves on that lake. Needless to say, we didn't go out fishing. We took a short walk to a rocky point to watch the waves crash. Then the guys went back to the cabin to drink coffee.
Me, I'm way too antsy to just sit around all day, so even though it was miserable out I went for a walk. A short distance from the resorts I came upon their collective garbage site, a dumpster enclosed in a chain link fence to discourage the marauding bears. And there she was - this adorable, sopping wet puppy, chewing on a grouse tail left over from some hunter's cleanings. She looked up at me as if to say, "Look! Won't I make a good bird dog some day?" The day was completely miserable - about 40 F and raining. She wagged her tail and seemed friendly, so I petted her. As we were getting acquainted, the garbage lady pulled up, emptied the dumpster, and gave the puppy a partially-eaten cheese sandwich, which she wolfed down without chewing it. Then she drove off.
As I stood there contemplating what to do, two women from the nearby rez drove up. "Is this your puppy?" I asked them. "No", they replied, "it's been here for about two weeks."
"Need another dog?" I asked.
"No thanks!" they replied. "We already have two!" they then drove off.
Our good friend had just lost his Irish Setter - I figured I couldn't leave her there, maybe he would take her. I picked the puppy up, and she was shivering violently. "I should call you Shiver" I said to her, and the name stuck.
We walked into the cabin and I could see it in my husband's eyes - it took less than five minutes and he caved. His friend was just wondering out loud minutes before I came in the door. "Ruthie always finds something cool on her walks - I wonder what she'll bring back this time?" (my last excursion had yielded a moose jawbone). I'll never know who that kind veterinarian in Fort Frances was who stayed after his last appointment just to give Shiver the proper vaccinations, but if he ever reads this, I hope he knows that he allowed us to keep the best dog we'll ever own.
Shiver turned out to be a very good grouse dog, indeed. We don't know anything about her heritage - although we are almost positive it involves at least one Golden Retriever - and I strongly suspect a Border Collie or some other type of herding dog.
Shiver - or "Little One" or "Divver Dog" or "Squid" will be sorely missed. Longevity being what it is in mutts, her body gave out long before her spirit ever did. I won't ever be able to pick up a shotgun again without thinking of my best hunting companion. You are in the arms of Jesus now, my dear - run well!!