Keenan

[dobesign]

Please say a prayer for the family that Keenan, Patty Storkel's beloved boy, has left behind. Take heart Patty...He's in a far better place that has bunnies and snacks. He now enjoys doing therapy work for God and his Angels...:cool:

[Elaine]

it is never easy to loose a loved one… they are in my thoughts and prayers

[doberdogsfd]

Bob and I are so sorry for your loss Patty.

Cheryl

[Elaine2]

Sincerest condolences Patty

God Speed Keenan

Elaine2

[Betty]

Patty, I'm so sorry for your loss but know that Keenan is in a far better place and that you will meet again one day.

Betty

[Sheila]

Patty, my sincere condolences. May your happy memories of Keenan help you through this difficult time.

Sheila

[Patty Storkel]

Thanks, everyone.
Somehow, i never saw this thread until now. Keenan was a very special rescue dog, and i knew the minute i met him that he would make a great therapy dog. Many wolfhounds are so suited, due to their usually calm nature, but keenan especially so. His original name was cuddles, if that gives you a hint. I'm of the belief that they need to have good, proper irish names, and that they live up to their names, so i picked keenan, which is gaelic for ancient/ancient wisdom.
We know the kennel he is from, but because he was rescued out of a shelter (at age 7 onths), we had an injunction to get him neutered within 3 days or pay an additional $265.00 fine. Just to spring him out was $450.00!! Obviously some of the shelters are taking advantage of and using the "rare breed" status to raise their rates... anyway, as soon as the breeder found out he was neutered, she asked us to place him rather than return him to her.
We thought there might be health issues due to his bloodlines, so it was determined right from the start that he would not be placed in the conventional sense, but live with one of our club members. That is when i met him, and immediately told her i wanted him. I was totally taken aback when she said No! I thought she was joking. She went on to explain he could possibly develope seizures or a heart condition. They didn't feel he would have a "normal" life span for an iw (7 ~ 10 yrs), and didn't feel it would be fair to a new owner to be facing the prospect of early loss. Then Providence stepped in. The gal caring for him had two bitches at the time, one dying slowly of cancer, and the younger trying to take over as alpha. One big fight, and i was asked to keep keenan for the weekend. He never left. He was 9 months old. I began training and socializing him for therapy work. In his short 5 years, he passed his CGC test and was tested for and certified thru the therapy program i'm the director of; Paws For Love. He worked at Salem Rehab in salem, OR since certifying. He made numerous regular therapy visits as well as many one of a kind "show and tell" type visits. He represented the breed at Kells Irish Festival in portland for two years. When he was 2 yrs old, we began treating him for a back injury that never cleared up, and the chiropractic and accupuncture later masked the symptoms of a very aggressive osteosarcoma of the lt. rear tibia.
He made it four months to the day with very good quality of life. He had just passed his 5th birthday. Attached are some of my favorite photos of him. He also received a two-page write up with pics in the Irish Wolfhound Illustrated, the iw magazine of England.

[Patty Storkel]

well, i don't know how to resize photos, and apparently mine are too big, so can only send them one at a time???
Here's another one of keenan in his working attire.
patty

[Patty Storkel]

and here's one of him a month before we had to let him go...

[Patty Storkel]

The Dog's Tea Party~
We had planned a lovely tea party for activity directors and volunteer organizations from all around salem and the area. Over 50 invitations were sent out, and we borrowed everyone's best china, damask linnens and had yummy handmade delicasies to offer. Can you imagine our surprise and dismay when no one showed up?!!! Couldn't let a good opportunity go, so we had keenan and three of his cohorts sit at one of the tables. Keenan is of course, sitting on the floor wearing his cheeseburger bandana. Sitting with him are rescue dogs petska, the australian cattle dog (now deceased); keesh the keeshond; and jack the border collie. All rescues and all certified therapy dogs. We sadly didn't let them have any of the people goodies!!

[Patty Storkel]

sheesh!! it would help if i hit the attachment button......
patty & neala (who is also being trained to take over his visiting duties)

[Elaine]

What a wonderful story… Keenan was very lucky to have found you… and vice versa. Reading about his early life I am amazed yet again at how many jackasses there are out in the world, who’s only function seems to be to make things difficult for everyone else.