Kramer and Kahlua

This is not the story of a dog with a drinking problem. It is the story of two dogs who really didn't get on well.

Dachshunds are strange dogs - and often are intimidated by dogs that are larger than them - which means most dogs.

Kramer was already five years old when Kahlua came into his life. My son-in-law and daughter bought a German Shepherd puppy, and by the time Kahlua and Kramer came face to face the former was already a big dog.

We would often go for picnics and for many reasons the dogs were always on a leash, and they seemed to get on OK. Perhaps a little cautious around each other, but OK. But when Kahlua visited Kramer at home, fur flew! Kramer could not accept this big visitor, so unless we went on outing where both dogs were on a leash, they saw little of each other.

My daughter and son in law always said that Kahlua was their "practice" for having children of their own, and it wasn't long before their first daughter arrived. Kahlua was so gentle with her, and there's no doubt there was a deep love. When daughter number two arrived the love affairs continued.

By this time the family had moved to a bigger property, and Kahlua enjoyed the great freedom of roaming a 2 1/2 acre property. She enjoyed the horses on agistment she rounded up the chickens, she welcomed all the guests and intimidated those who visited for unknown reasons. No one got past Kahlua at the front gate - even delivery men trembled as she bared her teeth at them from a few feet away, and many a church canvasser has been seen running down the driveway with Kahlua in hot pursuit.

Whether she would do anything to anyone she caught we will never know - but it was always fun to watch, and rescue those folk who had a legitimate reason to visit.

Sadly on the night of Thursday February 5th 09, Kahlua took ill. She vomited a few times, and seemed to have trouble with her bowels. Maybe in pain. My son in law was away working, and in the early hours of the morning my daughter sat with Kahlua not realising that the illness was so serious.

Around 4.30 am, I received a phone call from a teary daughter. "Can you come. I have to take Kahlua to the vet."

I flew out of the house in some clothes that I had hurriedly "thrown on" and was around at her place just on five minutes later, as she drove to the vet.

Two little teary girls were at the front door. I took them in, cuddled them and tried to get them back to bed.

Soon after 6 am I phoned my daughter. Sadly Kahlua had been euthanised. My daughter had managed to locate her husband and he was there to say goodbye to his most loved friend.

There were soon five of us sobbing, and cuddling. The family decided to bury Kahlua on the property, and during the morning a huge hole was dug near the house. A wonderful friend came to help - for it was not an easy task in the hard soil.

Late yesterday, Kahlua was buried in a very moving ceremony. She was wrapped in her blanket from her bed, and we all patted her and said goodbye. When her body was lowered into the hole we threw flower petals onto her, and my daughter read a long dissertation which we had all helped create, about the things Kahlua did, and what she meant to us all.

The youngest was truly overcome with grief and ran from the scene - but soon came back. She stood at the grave site in her purple tutu and sang a song for Kahlua. A love song.

We talked about never forgetting Kahlua and how she had made our lives much richer. Kramer was not at the service and will probably never know that Kahlua has gone. He has his own health problems.

It was a very moving ceremony and the two girls learned so much on this day. I am sure they will be sad for a long time, but they are strong.