Max & Shonti
This first story is about my brother's dog Max (a lovable mutt) and my dog (border collie, golden retriever mix) Shonti. (Shont-tee, it's French meaning song.) Anyway, about 10 years ago give or take, my brother got little fur-ball of a gold and white male puppy for Christmas. Cutest and sweetest dog in the world, after looking threw many names he settled on the name Max. And, for two full years Max played with two Shetland Sheepdogs. (Cali and Baxter, more on them later) and my mom's chihuahua Lucky. Needless to say when my brother and I were; at school or other wise away from home Max had no one his size to play with.
Then my mom had a friend who because of financial problems, had to give up her two-year-old border collie, golden retriever mix she had already named Shonti. Her friend couldn't stand the thought of the dog she'd raised from a puppy; sitting in a shelter, maybe never seeing daylight again. Since she HAD to give her dog up; she thought a home with other dogs and kids would be the best thing for her. So one warm summer day, after what seemed like months, out of Mom's car bounced this happy golden-brown dog. My brother and I though she was so cute; but Max fell in love, I don't know how to describe that moment when he saw her and I've never seen anything like it since. (Something that becomes a part of who that are.)
But, he was in love with her; fast forward a few years and Shonti had given birth to 5 little puppies on our living room floor. Though my mom worried how Shonti might react to Max's coming near her newborn puppies; when let him in anyway so he could see them. Max walked over to the little plastic kiddy-pool the puppies and Shonti were laying in; she let him sniff all the puppies, then he gave her a kiss on her head and sat down beside her on the outside of the pool. He stood there with his chest puffed out and, a big smile on his face like a proud Papa.
As the month's went on only one puppy remained; Ace (after Ace Ventura Pet Detective) sadly Ace darted out in front of a car and was hit. Ace was buried in the back yard and for several weeks both Max and Shonti seemed very depressed. As the years went by life returned to normal and Max and Shonti lived their life; stretching in the Summer sun, racing through Winter time snow and wrestling threw the Spring and Fall air.
Sadly, about five-years years ago Max pasted away from cancer; like any grieving human Widow, Shonti stood by his side the whole time. And, was there until he past on and, stood by the grave. And, still to this day, every day she walks out and lays down beside him. We live out in the country with cornfields all around; and a woods off in the distance, and in the woods there are coyotes. Everynight, you can hear Shonti in the back yard. She stands over Max's and Ace's grave barking her warning to the coyote to stay away from her family.
Never in my life have I seen or heard of a dog doing that. So for anyone who claims people give their animals anthropomorphism emotions; well now you see why I disagree with that. Even if this story is only read by a few people; to me it will be worth it. I think everyone should know Max and Shonti's story; to me the love they had for each other is the definition of true love. Someone who loves you even in death. Undying love.
