Chynna White, born May 26th, 1993

Died September 3rd, 2001

Chynna (pronounced China) is a female Siberian Husky/Something Big (!!) mix. Her mother was a purebred Siberian Husky, and was allowed to wander off while in heat. The result was a litter of 10 puppies, all of whom looked very shepherd like. Most vets assume that Chynna is a shepherd mix, although at 95 pounds (not really fat, either) she is a bit larger than your typical Siberian or Shepherd female. The second name "white" was given because of the tip of her tail being white. When she was a tiny pup and I would take her out in the yard at night to "do her business" before bedtime, all I could see in the light from the moon was the tip of her tail. :-) Here is a picture of Cisco, Chynna, and Natalie at about 8 months. Cisco is Chynna's brother and belonged to a roommate's boyfriend and Natalie was a pit mix puppy belonging to my other roomate.

When Chynna was a pup she liked to lay in the ivy that surrounded the patio. She still likes to hide in the foliage, I have several pictures of her almost completely hidden in the grape vines in my back yard.

Here is a picture of Chynna as a very young puppy making friends with a nice golden. You can see the white tip on her tail that inspired her second name.

When Chynna was about 8 months old, I fostered an Irish Wolfhound Brigid who gave birth to 10 puppies. Chynna had fun with Brigid and Fergus the parents.

One to Two years old

When Chynna was about a year old, my then roommate Lindy decided to run with her in the pre-vet student club "Race around the Quad". Lindy and Chynna competed in the pouring rain, but took first place in the large dog division!

Chynna at about 1 year old.

Here is a picture of Chynna at about 2 years old, with her very favorite of all time toys, the purple dinosaur. Sadly, the dinosaur met a tragic end, being repeatedly squeakerectomized before going to that great repair bin on top of the fridge, never again to emerge.

Chynna's Blankie

This is probably my all-time favorite photo of Chynna, that my roommate Heather took one day when Chynna was relaxing on her blanket.

Two to Three Years Old

I started raising guide dog puppies when Chynna was just over a year old. My first puppy was Pippin a female black lab. This picture shows Pippin (age 1, now a working guide), Planet age 1, and Chynna age 2.

Alberta was my second guide pup, and is shown here giving Chynna a little love bite.

When Chynna was almost three, I was finishing up raising Alberta the golden girl (now a working guide) and had received Detroit the GSD boy, so I decided to take them all in for pictures. Detroit is just 10 weeks old in the picture, Alberta is 13 months, Chynna is 3 years.

Chynna at 7 years old

Chynna turned 7 years old on May 26th, 2000. She is still in excellent health (better than ever since shedding about 10 pounds last year) and still enjoys bossing the other dogs around and helping to train the guide dog pups. Her Y2K project was Hackett the GSD pup who was a constant source of annoyance to her. She managed to keep him in line though.

Here is a picture taken in April, 2000, showing Chynna perched on her dog house surveying the back yard. When I leave her outside (fairly rarely) she likes to sleep on the roof of the house and soak up the sun.

Chynna at 8 years old

Wow, another year gone by and Chynna will be 8 years old in a few days. Here is a picture of her, taken last November, relaxing in the shade next to the sandbox. Chynna is mellowing out in her old age, but still manages to keep the other dogs in the household in line when needed. She is now working on bossing around Anchorage and the newest addition to the household, Gustine. Of course, her buddy Detroit is around to help her ride herd on them.

July, 2001

Here are some recent pictures of Chynna and the rest of the crew. We managed to get everyone, Gustine, Anchorage, Nancy, Chynna and Detroit to sit still and look at the camera at the same time.
Here is a shot of Nancy, Chynna and Detroit.
Chynna enjoying her squeaky toys.
Here's my sweet girl, at 8 years, 3 months.

Chynna passed away peacefully on September 3rd, 2001, from complications due to advanced osteosarcoma. I know she is pain free, happy and healthy again, but I miss her so very, very much. Until we meet again, Chynna-Bynna. 
 
 HER LONG SLEEP
 
 She wagged her tail to the very last
 And she smiles in her last, long sleep;
 The troubles of life, for her, are past!
      A shrine in my heart I'll keep.
 Her soul---for I feel that she had a soul
 And she thought real thoughts, I know---
 Has found the ultimate end, life's goal,
      In the heaven where good dogs go.
 
 She has lived with me and suffered with me
 Shed tears, in her dog like way;
 She has placed her paw at times on my knee,
      In a vain attempt to say;
 "God never gave us that wondrous power,
 To tell all the things we feel,
 But, I want to say, in my canine way,
      That my sympathy is real."
 
 So I loved my dog to the very end,
 And she in our daily walk,
 Was never just dog, but a constant friend
      And we had no need to talk.
 And I hope, when the summons comes, for me
 To embark on the unknown tide,
 I shall find her eyes in the Paradise
      They say is the other side.
                         --James Clarence Harvey

SitStay GoOut Store Rewards!Visit SitStay.com to buy all your doggy treats and help Cache County "Paws for a Cause" Guide Dog puppy raising club. A percentage of your purchase price will be donated to our puppyraising club.


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Nancy Roberts
email: nancyr@cc.usu.edu
April 25, 2000