Shasta - Tasman Siberians

Shasta

Sire - Am/Can Ch Tasman's Gun Metal Blue
Dam - Am/Can Ch Tasman's Diamond In The Ruff
OFA - SH-12155E26F

When does a dog cease being a dog and become a member of a family? For Shasta it was the moment I picked her up out the pen and carried her around while Cheryl showed me the puppies that were “available” making sure to point out she was not among them because she was show quality and would only be sold to a home that would show this beautiful girl. At the time I was looking for a pet, but was willing to give dog showing a try if it meant I could have this dog that I immediately bonded with from the moment I saw her! Anyone who knows me knows that I am not one to be at a loss for words and about an hour later I was driving my pick up home with this formerly “unavailable” puppy curled up in the passenger seat, which soon became her second home. I still fondly remember the battles she and my daughter Jaime had over who would sit by the window with “guess who” always coming out the winner!

Keeping my promise to Cheryl to show her, Shasta was entered in her first puppy match winning a group first which started her brief but rewarding show career. Finishing her AKC Championship at a young age, (I really don’t recall her age at the time because it really never mattered to me what judges thought, I always knew she was special) she then “retired” to the life of just being part of the family, keeping up with her chores of un-making my bed every day, emptying the trash, helping Jaime keep her room straightened by making sure everything was right where “she” thought it should be, and making sure the dirt in the flower beds was always nice and loose including the dirt under the flowers that she dug up and scattered across the lawn.

At the age of 14 ½, on Wednesday April 29th, while laying in my arms as many of you had seen her do at the shows, Shasta crossed the Rainbow Bridge to join her half-brother, Hootie, her dad, Gunner, her mother, Chloe’, and so many of her relatives who have gone before her. She was my best friend, my confidant through the bad times, Jaime’s guardian and protector when I was away, and a friend to everyone she met.

Thank you Cheryl, for allowing her to become a part of my life.

Tom Zitkovic