That was then.....

1998

- Nikki, Dexi, Blade, Seffe and Lia

2004

- Louis, Krizzie, Jay, Seffe and Nikki

.......And this is now

2008
- Kiri, Louis, Finlay and Tali in the front.

-Storm and Simba

Kai

Blade

Laecor Mikhail

1991-2001

Your eyes have closed a final time,

Your noble heart is still,

But your memories stay with us

And I know they always will;

So when we sit and speak of you

And laugh or shed a tear,

At times like these we know

You are still so very near;

And now old friend, it's time to say

Goodnight, God bless. Sleep tight.

Steve Stanley

Nikki

Written July 2005
(LLEDFEGIN CAMRI)
1RCC, Graded “V” Breed survey Class 1
9.6.93 – 4.7.05
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their cards, emails, text messages and kind words over the loss of our dear Nikki. For those of you who didn’t know her she was the foundation of the “Blanik” kennel and ALL our dogs are related to her. She was the mother of two CC winners, and through her daughter “Aria,” grandmother to the top winning German Shepherd of 2003+2004, and more than likely 2005!
At home Nikki was the matriarch, the dominant pack member, and as she considered all the others to be her offspring she had every right to be. That “look” was enough to put many a young member of the family in his place and if the misdemeanours carried on then one snarl and he would certainly collapse in a heap on the floor. Nikki never had to follow it through, so strong was her presence within the pack.
Where Nikki really excelled was as a mother, she even took over the care of Seffe’s 4-week-old pups when Seffe was too ill to care for them herself. (Though she wasn’t too pleased to have to “share” them as Seffe improved.) Lets not forget the many orphaned or poorly kitten that she also showed love and gave warmth too. How many times did I have to stop a couple of grey Tabby’s from suckling the empty milk bar? I’ll never forget the joy on her face as her new babies cuddled into her.
Anyone who walked with me will know that the other great love of her life was her “Kong,” it went everywhere with her. How long did we have to wait by a muddy puddle or lake for her to find it after she had dropped it in, not a hope in hell of her leaving without it; it will always be with her now.
One other thing will have to be mentioned, the stealing. Nikki was the biggest thief I have ever known, she’d never take anything whilst I was in the room but turn my back and it was gone. How many packets of lost Jaffa Cakes over the years? And the green stuff we use to buy for Seffe’s coat; “give 10mls daily,” Nikki had the bottle all 150mls of it in one go! If I was unlucky enough to leave a jacket or pair of jeans with a trace of food in the pocket in her reach then she would help her self getting to the food in any way possible. As she got deaf with age on nemours occasions I walked in and caught her holding the clothes down with her front paws and tearing violently at the fabric to get her reward. Memories that now I will always treasure.
This house so full of life, now has a big empty space without her, one that will never, could never be filled.
Steve and I wish to dedicate this poem to the memory of our dear Nikki, I apologise to the none- Welsh speakers, but it looses something in translation.

Aeth y Blynyddoedd heibio’n sydyn
Anodd oedd farwelio gyda hi
Hiraeth mawr sydd yn ei’n calon

Am un annwyl iawn I ni

New Kid On The Block

" Kaiser Vom Conbhairean "

(Bravos Vom Steffan Haus x Ginger Von Der Maleiche)

***Hip Score 3+4. Haemophilia "A" clear***

******************D.O.B 31/07/05*******************

Blanik Kids Welcome "Kai" to the family.

Kai is owned in partnership with Sharon Britnell.

Dear George,

I was sad and angry when I read that offensive article in the Daily Mail last week. The article is just a nasty, vicious attack on you, Anselmo, Kenny and anything that's precious to you. They have lied and twisted every fact of your life.Do they really know anything about you? I can only think that this is just pure spite and jealousy.
Your the sweetest kindest man....Yeah I know, I don't know you personally. But darling George you have helped me out of many a dark place in my life, especially through the most painful year ever for me. Without you to turn to in 2007 I don't know what I would have done. I don't need to turn to the bottle, I've got you to help me through.
I think what gets to"them" is that whatever they throw at you, it just makes you stronger. You have a large loyal fan-base who adore you, a lovely family around you, a gorgeous partner (Scratch his eyes out..lol) and a wonderful career. Long term, why should it get to you?
Freedom of the press...my backside! The fact that they haven't publishing comments which support you is getting to me almost as much as the bloody article! They just refuse to acknowledge the strength of support that you really do have. Dozens of people from GMF alone have added comments...but to no avail. Not one of them has been published!
I'd just love to think that you haven't read the article. Or if you have that your strong enough to just have shrugged it off with a few choice swear words. (and your usually good at them)But my God I'm afraid that if it was written about me or any one close to me I'd be devastated. (As I am for you.) Not just for me personaly, but for the other people that I care for that it's tried to ridicule. The gutter press at it's best....Shame on them!
Dear George you have our support...and you are, as always "The Bigger Man"
Not living my life with other people on my mind
No, not going to hide from anyone
Yes, I'm walking on new air
Just living my life
Better believe I'm gonna get what's mine
Cause I don't have the time
For the haters.
Don't let them tell you who you are is not enough
Don't let them tell you that it's wrong
Or that you won't find love
Don't let them use my life to put your future down
Don't let them tell you that happiness can't be found....

Krizzie 8:7:00 - 11:12:07

Blanik Deeanna
Krizzie Died Today.........Today is Tuesday.
Krizzie had shown no sign of illness until we came home from shopping on Sunday afternoon. In the morning she had eaten normally and had been wrestling with her daughter Tali. I took her temperature, and was upset to find it was 104, she was also very depressed. As I tried to examine her I found several small mammary tumours, which I was sure, had not been there long. Considering our recent experiences I panicked and phoned the Vet, he said I could take her in immediately.
His initial examination showed that she had respiratory problems, hopefully an infection, and she showed pain around her pancreas area. He took bloods and gave her antibiotics and anti-inflammatory tablets. I was to phone with a progress report on Monday morning and take her back on Tuesday.
On Monday morning her temperature was almost normal but she was very depressed and didn't eat all of her food, this in itself being a rare occurrence for Krizzie. On Monday night the alarm bells really started ringing when she didn’t eat at all.
This morning her temp had gone back up, she was pretty much the same in spirits but looked slightly bloated. But as we went to the car for the trip to the vets Kriz bounced out enthusiastically. She sat up all the way there and barked at a jogger who ran past the car as we waited at a junction. This gave me hope that Krizzie wasn’t feeling too ill after all!
The Vet examined her, decided to do a chest X-ray and drain some fluid from her abdomen. The fluid was blood. He immediately decided to do an exploratory operation and found that she had a tumour on her liver, which had burst and was haemorrhaging into the abdomen. He said there was very little left of the liver and there was nothing they could do to save her. He couldn’t understand how she had stayed so well and showed so few symptoms. It was decided that it was best not bring her round from the operation and to let her go peacefully to sleep.
I can't begin to tell you how I feel today. I've never experienced such pain in my life as I have these last few months. Krizzie was only 7 years old. I expected to share her wonderful/exuberant company for many years to come.
As you may know I’m sure I've now lost 4 of my beautiful Shepherds in 6 months and my lovely little Grani left us in April too. Along with ill health in my family this year, it must be the most painful year on record for me. I know there was nothing I could do to change things but that doesn't make it any easier accept. Krizzie died today.....
.....................................................................................................
In May 2000 Seffe was mated to Apollo von Dakota, and in July following a Caesarean I held the little bundles in my hands and dried off their wet bodies. One of the bitches in the litter of 5 had been too large to be born naturally and seeing as Krizzie was the largest pup and living with her over these years I now almost certainly believe it was her.
I christened the bitches Snap, Crackle and Pop, the boys Bill and Ben. I pitied the future owner of Snap, as even at an early age she was exuberant to say the least! By the time they where 6-7 weeks old, with not much between Snap and Crackle, I believed that Snap had the best conformation and therefore the decision was made to keep her. Snap became Krizzie, or Krizzie Pup as she was known till this day!
At around 14 weeks old Krizzie broke her front leg, we don’t know how, she never told us! She spent weeks in plaster, but it didn’t stop her from mischief making. One afternoon Steve was fixing the flat roof when he heard a noise behind him. Kriz was half way up the ladder, plastered leg coming first. I wasn’t home to help him and I still don’t really know how they both got down without breaking at least another leg between them!
Her show career started well, at her first show at 6 months old she was Res. Best Puppy in Show. She was a delight to show, though possibly somewhat too exuberant for the canine society show ring. In her last show at the end of August, proving to the young ones she could still move, she was 2nd in Open under Sarah Smith. (Saracol)
In July 2003 Krizzie gave birth to the Blanik “E” litter of 7 boys and one long coated bitch. (Our much loved and missed Jay being the sire) My initial disappointment at not having a bitch to show was soon forgotten as my “Amazing” Louis has grown to be my closest of friends, and without doubt the Star of the show in my eyes. But still I wanted a bitch to continue my line and in November 2004 Krizzie was mated to Rangemore Arko. The pups were born in January 2005, and guess what? Krizzie this time decided she’d have 8 boys and one bitch. Thankfully Tali (B. Frankie) was short coated and a very promising female.
Krizzie loved her kids; she would jump in to defend Tali or Louis in any situation. Usually under the watchful eye of her own mother Seffe the three of them spent endless hours playing together in the field. I feel they too will mourn her loss. Krizzie also loved people. Visitors where presented with a football and expected to play If they tried to ignore her she would parade with it in her mouth, chattering away until someone finally took notice of her. She particularly loved a couple of our male friends; Frank and Harry were her favourite visitors!
In May of this year Krizzie had a lump removed off her hind leg, she was also spayed at the same time. Though she spent a few hours feeling sorry for herself the following day she was up and off as usual. It was actually hard to keep her quiet.
Without doubt Kriz was physically the strongest Shepherd I have ever owned. There was only her, of all the dogs here, that with an unexpected pull on the lead could take us both off our feet. She was confident, non aggressive and funny. If you believe a dog can’t have a sense of humour, then you've never met Krizzie.
Today I wonder if it's all worth it? This pain is too great for me to see a way out. Four dogs gone in 6 months, my beautiful family ripped in half in less than a year. Surely it must be pain free to have none? Tomorrow I hope I will see things slightly different.
Krizzie died today, she was only 7 years old. She was fit, seemingly healthy and full of life and fun. Why didn’t we know she was ill? Why couldn’t she show us? If she’d have given us some sign that things were wrong, maybe, just maybe we could have helped, done something to keep her with us a little longer. Again, similarily to the way I felt after the death of her mother, I feel cheated and angry, but I don’t know who with. Today I can only feel that I must have been a very evil person in a pervious life, as God knows I’ve "tried" to be a good honest one in this one! I know that tomorrow, or maybe the next day I'll be stronger and think of the years of love and pleasure that Krizzie, like the others that I have loved and, have given me. Tomorrow I will know it's worth it!
Krizzie died today.........Krizzie Pup, my dear friend, be sure…You Have Been Loved

Beautiful George

"So," I thought, what is it about George Michael fans? Why are the majority of us animal lovers? What is it that draws us all together and keeps us all so happy in GMF?

Surely it's mutual kindness, compassion, gentleness and love, just like our man.

The beautiful boy grew into a wonderful man.

Just look at the pictures.....enough said me ffinks!!!!

Celt

This week Celt was taken into the vets to be put to sleep, he had been chasing sheep and his owners felt that this drastic action was the solution. I'm well aware that this is a serious offence in rural Wales; but does the blame lie here with the dog, or the owners ignorance or maybe incompetence? After all who walks a dog off the lead through a field full of sheep without being totally in control of the situation? Luckily my friend Sharon who is a receptionist at the vets persuaded the owners to allow her to try and re-home the dog. Her care and compassion for this dog (and many others) was both genuine and touching.
Celt was a 5 year old unentered male with a nice temperament. He was good with people and cats, though "apparently" slightly unsure of other dogs he had lived happily in the company of another. The prospects for re-homing seemed favorable, that was until on further inspection from the vets it was discovered that the dog had Anal Furunculosis. The owner had given a donation towards the dogs future, this would be used towards the initial cost of his treatment.
I'm lucky, I haven't had much experience with A.F, and hope I never will. I've only known 2 dogs who have suffered from the condition. The first female was 8 yrs old at the time of her diagnosis, her owner opted for surgery; at the age of 12 she was doing well and had had no re-occurrence of the condition. The other was also an older bitch, her condition was well controlled with medication. Obviously this is not always the case but Sharon and I both felt that this dog deserved a chance. Initially the vet felt that Celt was in the early stages of A.F and was optimistic about his future. He said that with this new drug which is cyclosporine based there is now an 80-90% success rate. We discussed surgery which would mean removal of the anal sacks and cryo surgery but he felt "at this time" it was not the best road to follow with Celt. All we could do was give Celt a chance and follow the vets advice.
Arrangements where made to move Celt from the surgery where he had been staying, to a boarding kennels. GSD Rescue had kindly offered to help out with the boarding fees and GSD helpline where going to provide a neutering voucher. Quite a few people where now getting together to help this boy on the road to recovery and the prospects of a new life.
Sadly before vaccinating Celt a vet at the same practice made a more obtrusive examination and found that the condition was far more serious than at first thought. There where numerous lesions in his anal passage. But isn't that the trouble with AF? It looks fine on the surface, but underneath its a nightmare. The disease tracks deep into the tissues, destroys everything in its path, and wont allow itself to heal. It was felt that it was kinder to let him go now before he started suffering. I am sure this was the right decision to make for Celt ~And just for a little while at least he has some real friends fighting his corner. I feel very sad, and Sharon is devastated at the unnecessary death of another lovely dog. If only he'd been diagnosed months ago, if he'd been treated earlier then he would have at least had a fighting chance.
Briefly to end...We are thank full for all the advice and all that we have learnt which may help us in the care of others who are in need in the future.
Nos Da Celt.

Welsh Witch

Lovely photo........ Oh yeah it's little old me, taken yesterday....aren't I beautiful aren't I just!
She with de 2 legs and Afghan hound hare cut said I ad to right, so I am.
What you want to kno? I kno I tell you about the show thing I went to on week-end day. Well I wz first and Louis wz first but he got BOB. Don't tell him but I let him win it cause otherwize he sulk. I saw lots of strange things there, minutre peoples and wrinklee ones, long haired, short haired and even some with baldi tops.
Oh yeh and me has a new mate. He's white and fluffy but he don't kno cos he aint got a mirror. He think he lwks like us....He's dead funny and fat and I can race him in the field. He look dead stupid cos his ittle legs are slo. Still I like him lots.
Today Jake ask me out I told him no way so he ask again and again and again and I bit him for being so cheeky. Mummy Kriz said I was bad but she didn't hear what he say to me....Me shocked....me such a nice girl!
Been out and found Vixen perfume today...lovely brand had a good rolli in it. Go back tomorrow for more!!! Going now, board with this......Byeeeeeeeee
Tali

Father and Son

Louis and Jay ......photo taken January 22nd 2007

Lend Me a Pup

I will lend to you for awhile, a German Shepherd pup, God said,

For you to love him while he lives and mourn for him when he's dead.

Maybe for twelve or fourteen years, or maybe two or three

But will you, 'till I call him back, take care of him for me.

He'll bring his charms to gladden you and should his stay be brief

You'll always have his memories as solace for your grief.

I cannot promise he will stay, since all from earth return

But there are lessons taught below I want this pup to learn.

I've looked the whole world over in search of teachers true

And from the folk that crowd's life's land I have chosen you.

Now will you give him all your love Nor think the labor vain,

Nor hate me when I come to take my Shepherd back again.

I fancied that I heard them say "Dear Lord Thy Will be Done,

"For all the joys this Shepherd will bring, the risk of grief we'll run.

We'll shelter him with tenderness we'll love him while we may

And for the happiness we've known forever grateful stay

But should you call him back much sooner than we've planned,

We'll brave the bitter grief that comes, and try to understand.

If, by our love, we've managed, your wishes to achieve

In memory of him we loved, to help us while we grieve,

When our faithful bundle departs this world of strife,

We'll have yet another German Shepherd and love him all his life

Thank you to a lovely friend On the George Michael forum for posting this or me.