Welcome to Tova's Rainbow Residency

Memories of Tova

On May 1, 1989, the final litter of elkhound pups was born at Pebble Point Elkhounds. The Norwegian import, Rasin Kiva, and Ch. Nordak Chelsea's Hannah, CD were the parents of 3 boys and 2 girls. There was one girl pup who was the first to do everything. She was the first to open her eyes; to stand up; to walk; to greet strangers and of course, the first to the dinner table! That bright little pup became ours and we named her Tova. Tova was a wild one. She was fiercely independent and had her own agenda. She knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it. She was the sweetest dog that we've ever known. Never once in her long life did she meet a dog, person or cat that she didn't like. She would bark as a means of communication but she was not a persistent barker. She never growled or snarled or snapped at any person or any animal. Tova lived in Albuquerque, NM for the first year of her life. Then we moved to Black Forest, CO where she was in her element. She loved the snow and the cold weather. Tova and Ed would go skijoring. Ed always hoped they'd never see a squirrel because there was no stopping her when she took off after a squirrel. One day they did see a squirrel in a heavily treed area. Tova went to the left of a tree and Ed went to the right. They both stopped rather abruptly. When Tova was 5 years old, we moved to New Mexico. We might not have had a lot of snow for Tova in New Mexico, but we did have plenty of wildlife. Her days in NM were spent barking at the intruding antelope, lizards, and jack rabbits. She roused up a rattlesnake one summer evening and kept it at bay, exactly the way an elkhound would keep a moose at bay. That was an amazing thing to watch even though I feared for her safety but Tova knew what she was doing. Tova loved her life in NM. She never missed an opportunity to go to the barn. She was up before 5:30 every morning to accompany Ed on the morning feeding routine. Then she went with me later in the morning and helped me clean stalls. We'd walk our property every day and Tova would help us find the holes that critters had dug that were so dangerous to our horses and we'd fill in the holes. Tova lived with 5 dogs, 5 cats, and 4 horses in our household. She was the best big sister a Bichon ever had. Throughout the years, we fostered several dogs and we always had company who arrived with their dogs. Tova welcomed all of them. She shared us, her toys and her bones with everyone. One of Tova's most endearing traits was her big smile. She would greet her favorite people with the biggest grin you'll ever see. My Mom lives in another state so Tova didn't see her often but every time Mom walked through our door, Tova would break out into this big smile. Tova liked everyone she met but she had one love in her life and that was my husband. She was devoted to him. Everyone would comment to me that it was plain to see that Tova was her Dad's dog. They would say, "Tova likes you but she LOVES Ed". Tova's final month of life was full of challenges but she met them all head on and never complained. Her rear legs weakened. She was no longer able to get to the barn but she insisted on not being left out. If I dared to clean stalls without her, she'd bark indignantly until I put her in the wheelbarrow and took her to the barn so she could supervise the daily chores. Then on April 1, 2006, one month short of her 17th birthday, Tova left us. She left us as she lived her life, on her own terms. Tova wouldn't have wanted her life to end at the vet's or on a weekday when Ed wasn't home with her. She choose a beautiful Saturday morning. She said good-bye to her Bichon sister and brother and then looked at us while we held her and she took her final breath in her backyard. While we dug her grave, our gelding, Jet, came in to pay his respects. He stood quietly beside us with his head down until she was buried. A Colorado Blue Spruce marks her grave. Tova was the 5th elkhound that we've owned over the years. On April 2, 2006, we woke up for the first time in close to 30 years without an elkhound in our home. I don't know if there will be another elkhound in our future. When you've had the best....... Here's to our Tova. Gone but never forgotten. Loved for all eternity. Our life will never be the same without our dear, sweet Tova. Please also visit Missy.

Tova's People Parent(s), Ed and Pam, would appreciate knowing you have visited their Baby's Residency. Click here to Email Ed and Pam a message, or to send a sympathy card click here. Email this page to a friend.

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