| Vargen
(pronounced Var-ree-en) was the son of the first Siberian
Husky I met at close quarters - Sue and Roger Hull's
Mikalya's Narvik of Nunatak. He was a dog with a great
wisdom and solemnity and was loved by everyone he met. At
the age of three Vargen was diagnosed as having renal
lymphosarcoma which had spread to his stomach. He was put on
a course of chemotherapy, but the prognosis was poor. It was
not expected that he would have much more than a few
weeks to live. However, he was not a dog to give in easily
and pulled through to an amazing degree.
He won a competition run by
Waltham's to find the bravest animal in Britain for his
remarkable recovery from the disease, and the portrait of
him we were awarded is a treasured possession of mine.
He was on chemotherapy for two
years and remained clear of the disease for a further three.
Tragically, in late 1998 he had a relapse and the disease
returned, this time more widespread. Once more he had
chemotherapy, but it was less successful, possibly because
of the complication of a severe thyroid deficiency which we
did not discover until after his death.
Vargen won many prizes at Open
level, but his illness cut short his show career. His last
main win was at Perth Canine Club where he won Best of Breed
and was short listed for the group. This was before there
were placings, so he would have been Group 3 or 4. He also
won Best Not Separately Classified at an earlier Perth
Canine Club show when he was a youngster.
Vargen was a true command leader.
He ran in lead from his first runs, and throughout his life
was always reliable in the front of the team. When he was
older and his illness took hold he was allowed off-lead in
safe places and I found that I could direct him by voice
even when he was some distance away. Vargen taught Sham and
Kenai to run in harness, as well as David Kirsty Halliday's
Flo and Phoebe. He ran alongside Blaidd as a two dog team in
the days when I used a normal racing rig and always gave his
utmost. To say that Vargen was a special dog is an
understatement - he is utterly irreplaceable.
Vargen passed away peacefully on
Saturday 23rd of January 1999 - the weekend of the SHCGB
Aviemore race, having stayed with us five more years than we
ever expected, and left us with a terrible gap in our lives.
As the plaque on the statue of him
which I gave to Perth Canine Club as a trophy for Best of
Breed says:
"Mikalya's Vargen of Wayreth - a
Great Leader, a Gentleman and a Friend"
Sleep well my dearest Varg, until
we meet again.... |
