Seven years ago we contacted our local animal shelter in Escondido, CA and put a request for a "husky type" dog on their wish list. A few weeks later they called to tell us they had a stray husky that no one had claimed. The next day we adopted Kono and brought him home (he rode in the car with his head on my lap and we immediately bonded.) His age was a mystery, but somewhere between 4 and 6 years was their belief. We called him our "Dido Boy" (short for Escondido) and began making up silly stories about his days on the streets of Escondido. - How he was the leader of a homeless bunch of dogs called the Dido Boys until he was caught by the dog police and bailed out by us. My daughter even made a book up about his days as a renegade. It had pictures (cartoon type from the computer) and an amusing story to go with it. The family all helped make up the silly tales. The first few days with us he really was a bit of a renegade - stole frozen ground meat from the counter (a few pounds - quite heavy and we could never figure out how he had gotten it down) and of course, we were able to salvage most of it because it was still quite frozen. He helped himself to some coffee cake left on the counter (the leftover plastic wrap told the tale). One afternoon I went to get a hamburger my daughter had made for me and there was only an empty plate on the table. We soon realized what had happened and I had to have an alternate meal for dinner. These little episodes seemed to fit in perfectly with his renegade story and we soon learned not to leave things around that he could help himself to. Fortunately, once he knew he was not going to be hungry his stealing stopped and he became very trustworthy. Once we had a bag of cookies sitting on a low table and he brought the bag (unopened) to us as if to tell us he wanted one. On another occasion my granddaughter had hidden some food (she wasn't supposed to have) under her bed. Kono brought it out unopened and dropped it at my feet. My granddaughter admitted hiding the bag under the bed and we were amazed at Kono - almost as though he was showing us she had something she shouldn't. Luckily, he was good and didn't eat it since he was already diabetic and it would have made him ill.

He loved to go for walks with us until he got diabetes, and then he just couldn't do it anymore. We walked three miles daily and he would walk nicely (never pulling) along with us. He would jump and get excited as soon as he saw his leash. When he became ill, he would go about a block and then turn around and try to head back home. One week after being diagnosed with diabetes he went totally blind. Although he did manage quite well, the doctor told us he was a good candidate for surgery to remove the cataracts. He saw quite well after the surgery and seemed to enjoy life again. He had uveitis and glaucoma, had to go twice a year to the eye vet and he required eye drops in his eyes daily for the rest of his life. He was absolutely the best patient I'd ever seen. He went willingly to the vet's office, would lay down and let them do whatever needed to be done. He was large and they would do his blood tests, etc. on the floor and I would get on the floor with him and hold his head and talk to him. They were always amazed at how good he was. He never growled at anyone.

Since he could not have regular dog treats, we baked him cookies using the prescription WD food, which he absolutely loved and never seemed to miss the store bought dog treats. He always got cookies when we went out and he would always get excited when I picked up my purse to leave. This way he didn't seem to mind us leaving. We also gave him cookies when he got his insulin shot, thyroid pills, eye drops and eye salve. He was a very good patient and was the most loving, gentle dog I've ever had.

He was truly devoted to me. During my recent hip replacement surgery he never left my side except to go out and to eat. Everyone called him a "Momma's Boy."

Often I still think I hear him with his I.D. tags jingling, following me down the hall. He was always with me. That's what makes it so difficult because there is such a void now without him. I look for him when I return home and those times when I would give him his shot, etc. As with so many others, arthritis and old age were the main causes of Kono's death. He was diabetic for almost 3 years, was well regulated, and we didn't experience any extreme difficulties as a result of the disease.  But we believe it had taken its toll on his liver, etc. weakening him. I miss him so much, but know he is free from pain and waiting at the Rainbow Bridge.