It seems like just yesterday when she was born. Right from the start we knew she was a fighter, for she was the only surviving puppy in her litter and she came into this world in the back of a van, on the way to the hospital. Her breeder wanted to call her "Vanessa", which was pretty cute. Somehow, Karen decided to call her Chaunie. To this day I still don't understand why, but it was better than "Snowball"....... :)

Chaunie was our "destructo" machine. Couches, carpets.... you name it. But look at what she had for a role model !!!! Her Uncle Bear (Goldstar's Wags To Riches, TDI CGC) would give her things just to spark her curiosity, and then come tell us that she was in trouble again........ And feisty too !!!! Chaunie hated to be slowed down by hugs, brushing, anything that caused her to delay her investigation of her surroundings. Seems her AKC name was amazingly appropriate.......

At puppy matches, Chaunie kicked doggie butt. Winning her class was pretty much a given. Winning in Group was not unusual. She almost went Best In Match once, but it was really late at night and the little thing just got tired. Can't blame her... we were exhausted too. :) By 6 months, she was going into her awkward stage, so we decided to wait until she matured a little before she entered the real show circuit.

But then at the young age of 11 months, she was diagnosed with Juvenile Cateracts. Her show career was over before it really got started. We still had a great pup and that was the important thing. Showing is secondary; a happy healthy pup is all that truly matters. We had her spayed, and never looked back.

Even though Chaunie was meant to be a showdog, we soon learned that her real place was working with rescue. She herself was NOT a rescue..... there has often been confusion with that point among others. She herself was a loved companion who never experienced abuse in her entire life. Chaunie's role was to HELP us break through the walls of abused and neglected dogs..... which she had an amazing ability to do. She was so much the image of the Samoyed Spirit, that when I designed the COSR logo (http://www.cosr.org), it is her image I used. I've always considered that an honor to her and a sign of respect to her breeder.... that she would be the model for others who visit the site and see what a happy, loved Samoyed should be like.

We remember almost losing her when she was 6 due to a blockage. It took a team of 3 surgeons working for 2-1.2 hours to save her life. But did that slow her down? No way. And then again when she was 10...... After the second time, Chaunie changed. She became more loving, and demanded her hugs. God help the dog that came between her and her "quality time"...... After the second surgery and brush with death, Chaunie seemed to be in tune with the invisible side of Creation. She'd see things that the others didn't. When Bear died, Chaunie insisted that he was still with us, and when I'd ask her to find him, she'd always go running to my office and stare right at the foot of my chair, with a big silly grin on her face. I've even seen her stretch as if she was going nose to nose.... with empty air. Lately, she was doing a lot of that.

The Rainbow Bridge has gained a mother figure for all those pure spirits that never knew what it meant to be a puppy. Teach them how to run, play, dig lots of holes, and swim in water bowls..... our lives will never be the same without you.