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Cisco is about 2 1/2 years old. His owners left him at a local
veterinary hospital, full of porcupine quills. When they didn't come
back for him, or return phone calls, the veterinarian called us, and
we took Cisco into our rescue. Cisco would do best as an only dog,
and he is not good with cats (or porcupines either, it appears). He
would be a great dog to alert you of intruders. The Colville Pet
Rescue has a special dog in our care, who needs a special person.
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monument status in Japan. Nor was this the voice an ordinary Akita. This was the voice of Hachi-ko, a legend in his own time, a symbol of Japanese virtue, a dog who had kept a 10-year vigil at Tokyo's Shibuya train station, waiting in vain for his master's return. Royal Origins The Akita Inu (the latter is the Japanese word for "dog") was named after the rugged, mountainous Akita province on the northern end of Japan's Honsu island, where the first dogs of this type were developed in the 17th century. Because Akitas were often kept as pets by Japanese emperors and other members of the ruling nobility, the breed was once known as "the royal dog." The Akita's size and courage made it a formidable hunter, whose quarry included the fierce boar, huge elk, and bear. The Akita's bravery also made it a favorite recruit for Japan's famed Samurai warriors. Survival of the Fewest When Hachi-ko died in 1935, at the age of 13, he was already a Japanese legend. The |
| preceding year the city of Shibuya had installed a life-size bronze statue of Hachi-ko at the Shibuya train station, where the faithful dog kept a vigil for his dead master. That vigil had begun in May 1925 when Hachi-ko's owner, Eizaburo Ueno, failed to return from the Imperial Agricultural University (now Tokyo University), where he taught. Professor Ueno had died of a stroke that day. Hachi-ko's story was related to Helen Keller when she inquired about his statue while visiting Japan on a lecture tour in 1937. Keller expressed a desire to own such a dog, and the following month she was presented with a puppy named Kamikaze, who was the first Akita to reside in the |
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| United States. "If ever there was an angel in fur," wrote Keller in the Akita Journal,, it was Kamikaze. I know I shall never feel quite the same tenderness for any other pet. The Akita dog has all the qualities that appeal to me — he is gentle, companionable and trusty." Keller's tribute to the Akita, and Hachi-ko's fame, captured the imaginations of dog lovers around the world. But for their influence the Akita could have become extinct as a result of the devastation wrought upon Japan during World War II. Because of the profound food shortage during the war, anyone seen feeding a dog in Japan was liable to be branded a traitor. Therefore, many Akitas were destroyed at the time. Barely a dozen Akita dog survived the war, wrote Ogasawara, but a number of American servicemen were able to bring T Each April tens of thousands of people visit Hachi-ko's statue in Shibuya train station. There a festival is held in memory of this devoted dog, and visitors leave offerings at the foot of his statue in the hope that the spirit of Hachi-ko will visit the hearts and souls of all humans.” If you live where you are bothered by bears, coyotes, or cougars Cisco will lay down his life for you and your kids. He will, however, kill your cat if you have one. |
Animals must be spayed or
neutered. Availability of an animal is
subject to change without notice.
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