The Legacy Continues

Who knew the Rainbow Bridge had internet access?  I’d rather play with the children and my toys than blog, so this will be my last one.

I’m excited to watch the Kolchak, King of the Wolfhounds, tradition continue. I’ll pass the torch, aptly, on Veteran’s Day, 11-11-11. One month exactly from when I said good-bye to earth and hello to Heaven, my successor arrives in Hawai’i.

Continuing the Wolfhound tradition as Kolchak XVI will be an amazing young fellow who has shown the tenacity of a Wolfhound already in his 17 weeks of life. He was one of twelve pups born on 6 July 2011, small, with an in-utero tail injury resulting in the loss of half his tail. At first he struggled a bit with getting enough nourishment, but his human mom, Natasha, kept a watchful eye on him (even in the wee hours) until he was strong enough to keep his spot at the milk bar. Then, at 11 days old, he was the first of all his siblings to open his eyes. Following up on that first, he was first to drink from a plate and first to eat solids like a big boy. Natasha said “small of body and large of brain is Argus.” However, the former didn’t hold true as he soon got a monster appetite and out-grew some of his siblings. His human mom said he has the heart of a lion... she must have meant Wolfhound, but just didn’t know it yet. Mom, Dad, Madeline, Matthew and I think he’s perfect for the job.  

All of you made a place in your heart for me so I know you also will for my successor,  Kolchak XVI, Alyosha Argus, King of the Wolfhounds.  For such a young boy, he is adventurous so he’s going to try his paw at blogging as well.  His blog is at http://kolchakxvi.blogspot.com/  .

It was my honor and pleasure to serve with the 27th Infantry Regiment “Wolfhounds”.

NO FEAR ON EARTH!

Much aloha from the Rainbow Bridge,

Kolchak XV, Hoakoa Korsakov’s Travelin’ Man, King of the Wolfhounds (Ret.)

Sunrise: 2 November 2009
Sunset: 10 October 2011

Not quite 2

Today was a great day two years ago when Kolchak XV was born in Virginia.  We only celebrated one birthday, his only birthday, with him. Now we mourn his loss and wait for the days when memories of him only make us laugh instead of cry. We were blessed to know him, only wishing it was for longer. Thank you Jane and Wolfhounds for letting us be his family. 

Hoakoa (friend to soldiers)

Again, Hoakoa, with brotherly love shared between Wolfhounds.

Loved Wolfpups and they loved him.
He was so patient and tolerant with the keiki.

Was good with even the smallest Wolfpups
even when one would play with his toy.

Pillow and furry, four-legged brother.
Great for movie night on the floor.

Loved and asked for cuddles like this.

Guard dog against stray cats, door-to-door folks,
the mailman, neighbors he'd met a loads times,
and even a branch. Good boy.

Napping on his bed by his chew toy (dad's chest of drawers).

Best big, black nose that we will miss kissing.
We miss this face.
We will always love Kolchak XV, King of the Wolfhounds, part of our family.

RIP Kolchak XV

November 2, 2009 -- October 11, 2011

There aren't enough words, but I can always try. I never imagined our time with him would be so short.

Kolchak had torsion and bloat on Sunday afternoon that was operated on from 4pm to 9pm that night, but ultimately he died of a pulmonary blood clot this morning around 11am.

Kolchak XV was first a blessing to our family. He came to us from a wonderful mom and he reflected his upbringing. Many said he was the best behaved Kolchak. We agree. To us, he was a goofy teenager growing into his body while embedding himself in our hearts. Of course, he was our "very, very bad dog" when he chewed things he shouldn't or stole food off a plate or counter, but he was just being the teenage borzoi he was meant to be.

Kolchak XV only came to us through his job and he did it well. He blessed our current Wolhounds, wolfpups (the kids), Gold Star families (KIA’s - Killed in Action’s family members), and Wolfhound Veterans of various wars by being gentle, non-judgmental, fuzzy, funny, and regal (if only you could see him in his dirt pile!). He was the physical representation of Wolfhound compassion. He only lived long enough to become a Corporal in the army, but he will always be one of a line of King of the Wolfhounds.

Finally, know that due to his Military Working Dog status, he was provided unlimited around-the-clock care that most owners/handlers/families dream of. This resource was exceptional in the heart of the vets and techs on their holiday weekend to come in quickly and frequently, some volunteering to pull a watch or overnight shift. They pulled for him with everything they had, knowledge, experience, resources, and desire. One tech said, "This is why I do this job. I take care of animals that serve." There was always at least one vet, often two, and a tech or two with Kolchak. He was the only animal in the emergency area so it was all about him. I do not doubt his care and only dream of that level in a civilian environment. 

We thought he was doing better so the kids and I got to pet and hug him for a half-hour. He was alert and responsive, lifting his head when he heard and saw us and even trying to move toward us. When he started to crash, we had to go to another room. We know he knew we were there and that we loved him dearly. This is our only comfort. Our house is filled with his things, specific to borzoi and/or him. Now our palm trees will grow with the scars of his teeth, our China cabinet and house trim will bear his mark, and the hole in our heart the size of his schnoz will remain.

Godspeed, Corporal Kolchak XV Hoakoa Korsakov's Travelin' Man, to travel over the rainbow bridge, much too early for us, to rest at the feet of the Lord with a squeaky stuffy in your grip. Someday, we will meet you there.

Please pray for me

This is Kolchak's mom here. I've been accused of writing his blog, but those are just nasty rumors. 

I'm blogging tonight FOR Kolchak. He has just come out of surgery. He stomach flipped (torsion I think it's called) sometime between 9am and 1:30pm when we were gone to Sunday school, church, and Target. When we came home, he was just not the same. So, long story short, his surgery started at 4pm and ended just before 9pm. I met with the vet to discuss the "findings" which, I have deduced, mean crummy things. SGT Bates (nee SPC Hayden - see blog entry on 1st trip to the vet) saved him initially by simply inserting a needle into the swollen area of his abdomen. The sound was like pushing the release on a basketball. sssshhhhh This was to prevent more damage and his stomach actually corrected itself at this point. He did vomit during the initial anesthesia and they tipped the table, cleared what they could, and continued on. There is some fluid in his lungs for which they have put him on antibiotics. His spleen survived and not all spleens do so that was good news. However, he has a 2" x 2" patch of necrotic (dead) tissue on his stomach confirming that his stomach did twist. The vet did a double stitch job to isolate the dead tissue. She then told me that there is a 40% survival rate when this damage has been done. Something to do with platelets clotting in the stomach once the stomach corrects and the blood flow is restored. I think the platelets stops blood flow to the stomach again. He is on blood thinners now. 

When I left the Veterinary Treatment Facility (VTF), he was still intubated and on the OR table. She said it would be 1 1/2 hours until I could see him so I reluctantly decided to come home. He will have his vitals checked every 5 minutes for the next 24 hours. Fortunately, he is at a military facility so he has vets and vet techs on “watch” for him in three hour shifts. He won’t be alone. The vet will let me know if there is any indication of a slowing of his pulse. I came home to rest in case I am not able to on Monday and so I can bring the children and Isabella to post if Kolchak isn’t going to make it. No matter what, we’ll be up there tomorrow morning. 

I’m feeling rather helpless now. There is nothing I can do, but I know God knows he is at the VTF and we love him. His earthly dad knows what is going on so soon the deployed Wolfhounds will know. Kolchak is loved by many. Please, please pray for his healing. Only God can help him now. We need him to be OK. He’s only been with us for just under a year, but he is an integral part of our family. The house is empty tonight. My heart, our hearts, will have an empty space if he crosses the rainbow bridge. Please pray he doesn’t do that now and we can have many more goofy years with him. 

I don’t know what else to say as I have so many concerns, what-ifs, questions, and such as you do. 

Mahalo nui loa for your prayers for our boy.

First Time at Camp

Sorry it's been a while.  Summer with Dad being gone made life hectic.  We started school last week so things are slowly returning to normal - including the return of couch time for me while I pretend to listen to history or something (that is not nearly as interesting as the inside of my eyelids). Eventually Mom will download all of my photos so I can use them to blog. Until then, I've got some video clips from my time at camp.


Mom and my two-legged siblings went to Maui to race in the state paddling regatta. I couldn't go along so Isabella and I went to camp instead. Tradewinds Pet Suites is a fun camp right up the road from where I live. They let us stay together in a huge kennel for two. There were horses nearby that reminded me of Korsacov and my first mom, Jane. To help this Borzoi that is made for Siberian winters, Isabella and I got a bathtub in which to cool down.  I also used it as a big water bowl. I stuck my entire schnoz in there and sucked up some cool hose water. It was the perfect refreshment for a Hawaiian afternoon in the Wai'anae valley. 


My camp counselors took some video of me playing so I'm posting the web address. If these links don't work, you'll have to copy and paste it into your browser. I'm not totally tech savvy yet. It's worth the hassle because, although a blogging dog is phenomenal, watching me running and playing is even better.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c5WsQe7D_Q&feature=related
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGfsqoF_0Qk&feature=related
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u_EQhzE7IU&NR=1


Thanks for stopping by!
Kolchak
King of the Wolfhounds, enjoyer of camp

Tropical Dog Toy

Aloha!  Just love the islands and my new favorite chew toy.

Crispy palm fronds make a super crackly noise.

Grr... grrrr..... {shake, shake} grrrrr....

Munchy, crunch. I love these treats. If there are none on the ground,
I stand up with my front paws on the tree, bite a fresh frond, and YANK!

Mom says that this seems cute and innocent until you see the
claw dents in the tree trunk or where I chew the branches of the baby trees.
She's not so happy with my style of gardening.

A guy can smile while chewing his tropical treat.

I can't wait until we replace the weeds with grass
and I can lay in the cool grass with a crispy frond...
unless I can dig the grass up. That sounds more fun.

Much aloha,
Kolchak
Killer of palm fronds and stuffies
KING of the Wolfhounds!

My 1-27 Brothers!

I know it's been a while since I've blogged. I've just not been to work in ages. 2-27 deployed while 1-27 was still deployed.


I did get to meet the family of a fallen hero Wolfhound this June, but that was too sad to blog about and I don't have photos. I will remember them in my heart. I really liked his sister and cuddled her by laying my head in her lap. We all need a cuddle sometimes.


On the flip side.... YEAH!!  I've been waiting since I got here to meet my 1-27 Wolfhounds and I finally met them yesterday.  Woooo hoooo!


I'm going to a redeployment ceremony on Thursday so I needed to meet and train my new handler.  

 SSG Fennell mutters, "Good Kolchak. Good boy." 

I telepathically message him, "Good SSG. Good boy."

 Historically, I am one rank higher than the person who is handling me. 

Right now, call me Major Kolchak while I hang out on Captain Jura's couch.

Well, he's out of his office, but a guy can dream, can't he?

SSG Fennell and I enjoy some quality time on the love seat.
I love my new staff... er.... um... handler. He's nice and trainable.
The feeling is mutual, I'm sure.

This is me with Cheeseburger Guy.
I'm sure he has a name, but that's how I remember him.
Mom made sure I sat for my cheeseburger. Sheesh. Picky ol' broad.

OK, Cheeseburger Guy. I'm still here. I'm still sitting. Can you take a hint?

It worked. Cheeseburger Guy is a bright spark.

It's a stand off at the Cheeseburger Coral....
We stare each other down.
Who will give up first?

I gave up.
Sitting on my bony haunches for a morsel of cheeseburger quit being worth it. 

Me and one of the many 1-27 Wolfhounds that pet me yesterday. It's great to be back at work again.

I came, I trained, I smelled, sniffed, licked,and
observed everything and person I could find. I'm exhausted.

Mahalo nui loa to my 1-27 Wolfhound brothers for letting me hang out with you yesterday. It was super fun to get to meet some of you, check out my new work place, and get pet. Next time, more cheeseburger please.  :-)