Katie came into our lives in 1988. Her former human's were very cruel to her so she really didn't trust people. She would break free from her chain and come to our house. She trusted me because she knew I would never hurt her and I always took time to play with her when she visited. One day she came to visit dragging her chain as usual, so I called the people and told them I was going to keep her. They didn't care the didn't want her anyway. Katie became part of our family. She had a brother bear (australian shepard) and a brother Fiscus (cat). Katie hated being inside. We tried so many times to get her to live inside with us but she wanted outside. So we left her live outdoors. She was very happy. Soon we had 2 human children. Katie still didn't trust people even after living in a loving home for 4 years. She just didn't want anybody near her but us. She truely didn't trust people .But it was my son that made the biggest difference in Katies life. He was barely 3 when he toddled over to her run and crawled in her house with her pups. While the rest of us weren't allowed to see the pups he sat in with them. Katie always had a different bark and a brisker step when my son was near her. He would spend hours just setting outside with her enjoying the summer sun. They would play catch with the snow balls in the winter. They were friends. Katie was always a healthy dog so we never worried much about her. We were Katies family for 13 years. She was 14 when she passed away 01-13-03. I was working and I suddenly felt something was wrong at home. I left work early that cold day and I saw Katie laying there in the snow. I can't explain the hurt I felt much less the hurt my son felt when he came home from school and we told him his friend was gone. Well here we are almost 10 months later and we still miss her and love her so much. I feel better knowing that Katie had a better life than she would have just because I chose not to send her back to her first home. As for my son, when he is feeling lonely or sad he will still cry about Katie. But he has found peace in the fact that he planted a tree in memory of her. So it helps when he goes to their tree and there he feels nearer to her.