This is the most beautiful piece of heaven, here our Borzois have their home,
They play with the clouds, run with the wind.
Here they are all together, those for whom so many tears have been shed,
The young ones and the old, all peacefully united.
Great the fortune allowing us to have them, to share a tiny portion only, alas, of our lives,
but during this wonderful period THEY have given us their ALL.     MGR
(This is the translation of my poem written in German)

KATUSCHKA (07.10.1972 - 21.04.1984) She was my first Borzoi. On 06.12.1977 I was able to collect her from my sister. She and her husband ran an animal boarding Kennel. KATUSCHKA was 5 years of age and in the previous 2 months had to change homes many times. In this short period I became the 5th owner. The wife of the first owner where she spent nearly 5 years, expected a baby and so, apparently because of a sudden allergy against dog fur, the animal had to be parted with forthwith. The 2nd owner owned a Poodle and Borzoi and Poodle did not agree. The 3rd owner was furious because the dog did not bother to greet him, tail wagging, when he returned home - worse, it did not even bother to get up from it's bed - as if a Borzoi would. The 4th owner was a dog merchant, who had given her to his girl-friend who was expecting a baby. As my brother-in-law knew that after the passing of my last Cocker Spaniel, I would like to have a Borzoi, he offered the dog dealer a good price and so it came about that he brought KATUSCHKA on this 06.12. to my brother-in-law. We were just drinking coffee when he arrived. He was in a hurry and departed after a very short time. Not one word to KATUSCHKA when he left the room and she stayed totally disinterested on the floor. She came with me at once when I asked her to follow me to the car. Quite obviously it did not matter to her what was going to happen. To think what this gentle creature had to endure the past 2 months. I felt so sorry for her and if only for that reason I wished to make the rest of her life as pleasant and nice as I could manage. As happy as all of my dogs were who came to me as  puppies, she somehow never became, but she was a gentle very appreciative dog who accompajed me, as did all her predecessors, everywhere even to my place of work.
On 22.04.1984 the vet had to release her of her pain. I took her to the animal crematorium where she was cremated. At that time I unfortunately had no possibility for a grave and was unable to take her ashes with me.

KURAKIN (27.02.1985 - 10.08.1996) He was the little brother of I'Jasnaya whom I collected on 23.04.1984 in Germany from her breeder Gertraude Eick von Schoeler. When she repeated the mating a year later, we certainly had to have a look at this litter. KURAKIN, the most checky of the litter was the one we would love to have. I doubted though if my boss, who in fact was afraid of dogs, would be happy if I suddendly appeared for work with two such large dogs. Our holidays were due and Gertraude offered to let us take little KURAKIN along on vacation - what a splendid adventure that would be for the little chap! The following days I explained to my boss that I planned to take a second Borzoi, who naturally would also accompany me to work. As far as I am concerned, he said, you can bring as many dogs as you like as long as  you stay. I at once rang Gertraude to definitely reserve KURAKIN for us. Actually she already had hoped that we would  keep him after he had spent the vacation with us - as she confessed years later. KURAKIN was after all those years when I wanted solely bitches the first dog. I must admit that males are so much more demonstrative in giving as well as in receiving. I simply adored this charming, dear boy. Because of serious especially personal circumstances he later became unpredictable towards human beings. He guarded me as the apple of his eye and did not tolerate anybody near me. I could fully understand him - as I knew the reason, Quite on the contrary, I felt so very sorry for him and I hoped that with special attention and love I could make up for a little part of his loss.
He was 11 years old when he got seriousely ill and all the medicine from the vet did not help. On the 10.08.1996 there remained no possibility to help him and the only thing remaining was for the vet to release him from his pains. As remembrance I have a tooth of him set in gold which was intended as a small pendant on a fine Gold necklace. Being afraid that it may get lost it remains in my jewel case.
His ashes, in a colourful Paperbag, are resting in my bed of roses, at the bottom of the terrace and in due time will become earth again. His death was a terrible loss to me. I think the loss of a dog has never before made me suffer as much as did the death of KURAKIN, Then I did not know that it could get even worse.

I'JASNAYA (03.12.1983 - 12.08.1996) From long experience J knew that it is easier to cope with the death of a beloved companyon if one with a new one one is kept occupied with a fresh challenge. Consequently I rang the same day on which KATUSCHKA passed away to try to find a young Borzoi bitch. There were none for sale in Switzerland. However Gertraude Eick von Schoeler was mentioned to me as she might possibly have a bitch available. After a brief telephone call it was agreed that I would call on her on Easter Sunday, 23.04.1984 to meet I'JASNAYA. For me it was perfectly clear that I would not return home without a dog. I had sufficient cash with me to pay for the pup at once. I believe I completely overwhelmed Gertraude at that time, because afterwards I learned that people interested in one of her pups had to come and visit at least 3 times before she finally agreed to let one go. Contrary to this I arrived, fell in love with the 4 months old little girl, asked the purchase price. Of course I had told her about the just deceased KATUSCHKA. We immediately took to one another - in any event I departed a little later with I'JASNAYA on her featherbed in the rear of the car. In May 1985 I collected her little brother KURAKIN and she immediately took over and played mother. When KURAKIN did not return from the vet on 10.08.1996 I'JASNAYA developed breathing attacks and suddenly she could no longer climb stairs. Also at night and during the following day these problems remaind and became even worse. Especially during the second night I felt I had to take her to an emergency station. The following morning I took her in the car to the vet. She had another  attack at the vets and he confirmed that there was nothing he could do to help and advised not to let her suffer any longer. Only two days after KURAKIN  I now lost on 12.08.1996 also I'JASNAYA. I shall never know how I managed to get through this dreadful period! Her ashes were put next to those of KURAKIN, also in a colourful paper bag.

MIMOSHA (09.07.1988 - 18.08.1999) Actually, she was called Mimosa - she belonged to acquaintences, a married couple, whom I got to know through Borzois. They lived quite close to me and had 2 Borzois, a dog and a bich, namely MIMOSHA. Together we frequently went for walks. The marriage failed, ending in a divorce. The wife took the dog, the bitch remaind with the husband. MIMOSHA was a shy, somewhat frightended bitch, but she trusted me fully. After the divorce she came to me for a few days and in the company of KURAKKIN and I'JASNAYA she immediately felt safe. 10 days later he wanted to collect her. Quite happily she jumped into his car, but when she realized that my 2 were not comming along, she jumped out of the car and raced back into the house, hiding in the cellar - no way would she leave alone! I offered that I might possibly keep the bitch for good. On the lead he forced her into his car. A week later I received a phone call from his ex-wife who complained that she had a terrible problem. I told her I had alredy offered to take over MIMOSHA for good I said - so you know what it is all about? I replied it could only be about MIMOSHA. He could no longer cope with her and took her to his ex-mother-in-law, where she stayed when she was in heat and where she liked to be. This time however, she wetted the carpets and left her heaps only on carpets inside the house. She wanted only one thing and that was  away from there and back to be with I'JASNAYA and KURAKIN. Instead the former owner took her to the horse stud into which she had remarried. There MIMOSHA was together again with the dog but also 2 bitches of another breed. She did not want to stay there. On a stud farm there are many cats and although in the past she even accepted cats on her bed she found a way to return to us. Every day she killed one of the young cats and deposited them in front of the feet of her former mistress. On the very day of our telephone conversation I drove to the Black Forest to pick up "my" MIMOSHA- She was in a meadow. As soon as she heard my car she came running, jumped into the car and disappeared in the farthest corner. I'JASNAYA and KURAKIN were delighted too that our little Mouse was with us once again. On this day, October 25th, 1992 aged 4 years she became mine for good. The three Borzois were inseparabte whether in the house or garden and MIMOSHA developed into a very happy dog - she had lost her shyness completely and was no longer afraid. After the death of KURAKIN and I'JASNAYA only MIMOSHA remained and quite soon she became afraid of me. She ducked when I wanted to hold her in my arms as I had done so often before - she avoided me whenever she could. It became worse by the day. What happened to this bitch? Did she  perhaps think that first I went away with KURAKIN and he did not come home again and then so soon afterwards the same  with I'JASNAYA. Was she afraid I would drive away with her next and not bring  her back home again? I had to find a solution as this could not go on. I heard that ARUSHA had landed in an animal shelter and she came as savior to my MIMOSHA. From then on MIMOSHA at once became the sweet, happy girl again - nothing could happen to her now, she had ARUSHA at her side. Even when the two puppy dogs arrived in May 1999 she had no objections. Often she even looked for their company.

At the beginning of August 1999 - (again in August ....) she suddenly developed fainting attacks, she was 11 years on 9. July 99. She no longer could walk properly. She dragged one of her rear legs and this became worse by the day. Injections did not bring the desired effect and when she could hardly remain standing on her legs I took the unavoidable trip to the vet. Her ashes too rest in the rose bed - now they are united again, the Three -  

ARUSHA - On 23.10.96 I drove to the dog's home of "Pro Lévrier" to take ARUSHA for a walk. She greeted me full of joy as if we had known each other for a long time when in fact I saw her for the first time. At that time she was almost 6 years old. A very dominant bitch who was exactly what my shy girl MIMOSHA needed after the death of my dog KURAKIN on 10.08.96 and I'JASNAYA, his large sister, on 12.08.96. when she seemed to have lost her moral support and urgently needed support again. The walk was a great success, ARUSHA on the lead and MIMOSHA free. She could not get close enough to ARUSHA. They sniffed at the same place, nibbled at the same grass and wanted to play together. Two days later ARUSHA moved in with us and since then she is the boss in house. MIMOSHA blossomed - with ARUSHA at her side  nothing could happen to her. Today ARUSHA is proud of "her" two boys BALCHAS and BOYAR as she is still the Alfa-dog who reign                s in house. If she goes into the garden to wee both dogs follow behind. At feeding times the boys always have a little bit in their dishes for ARUSHA, who then licks them clean.

With a click in the "Pedigree" you can read everything concering her ancestry.