Vahsi, the Gentle Giant
March 2002 - April 2006
At 180 pounds, Vahsi had been too big to load on an airplane.
The fine folks at National Anatolian Shepherd Rescue Network (NASRN) were undaunted. Tom Hamilton got busy and in less than a week
he had filled a roster of dedicated pet rescuers who would haul Vahsi from Arizona to Idaho.
So it was that Vahsi, the 180-pound Anatolian, left Tucson on a Saturday morning, March 8th, and I met him in Boise on Sunday evening,
March 9th. A disposable camera came along to record his big journey with all of these fine people, unsung hero's, who do this sort of
thing on a regular basis. This was my first experience with pet rescue relays, and was absolutely heart warming! Not only was I surprised by a rescue
activity that is almost a hobby for so many people, but also that so many of these folks hauled Vahsi in vehicles not meant for hauling
"livestock." What a tribute to Vahsi's great Anatolian good nature that folks could/would put him in the back of their vehicle and not worry about him
destroying anything, let alone removing their ears! He was a gentle giant of a dog!
My first live view of Vahsi in Boise was whenever he stepped out of a Honda CRV and the back end of the vehicle rose about a
foot and a-half. The woman hauling him that final leg of the trip said she had been peering up over the hood all the way after he "jumped...er well,
STEPPED into the vehicle." I took Vahsi to my daughter's home, and then the next morning, we started for Spokane.
Vahsi was still in adventure mode, but upon our arrival in Spokane, he seemed to approve of the surroundings and the company of our female Anatolian, Ayla.
Vahsi came with some medical problems. He had a growth on his chest that proved to be a mast cell cancer. Washington State University gave him 9 months to
4 years to live. He managed in very good health until January of 2006. By April, although his appetite was still good, his eyesight was gone and we had to make
the very tough call to the vet, who came to our home.
Vahsi was just too proud to give up his "duties" as guardian of all that moved
here, and with new construction next door, we could not have him running into
things. He made it close to the four-year mark and loved every minute of his
stay here. He would lounge in the herb garden with us, but only briefly. His
calling was to DUTY, and he was happiest whenever he was in his YARD and STALL
where he could survey all below him and keep us apprised of all that went on.
His happiness here was a blessing to us and I believe he made it closer to four
years just because he knew he was finally HOME!
We felt privileged to make have him here looking out for us so diligently. It
was love at first sight... and last. We heartily recommend the Anatolian breed,
and the RESCUE of so many of these beautiful... but BIG animals that are in need
of a place to call their own! You will never be as well cared for as you are
under the watchful eye of an Anatolian Shepherd.
