Koda's seventh birthday a bigger deal to the adult human than to the canine

EDGEWATER -- Birthdays are usually something of a great time. When it is children, they are excited for their "special" day. As you get older your attitude can change on that. I am pretty sure that my celebrating my pups birthday's is more for me than them. On July 1, 2004, Miakoda was born. Looking back now to that date, I realize how truly blessed I am to have such a loving animal, I have nicknamed "Koda."

We lived in Las Vegas at the time and our very best friends Benny and Marie got us into the wolf dogs. Miacoh and Nashoba were the grandparents and Yona and Skay were the parents. On the day he was born, Marie called and I rushed to their house. I use to tease them because they lived on the other side of Vegas and I would joke that I had to go to Arizona to visit.

On the day that Koda was born, I rushed to their home as soon as they called. When I arrived Yona had just started having pups. She let me get into the whelping pen with her and I handed the beautiful pups to Marie who would weigh them. After all of the six beautiful all-white wolf pups were born, Grandma Nashoba came in to see.

She gave Yona her seal of appreciation and was as interested in helping Yona with her babies as if she was the mother herself. In Miakoda's seven years, he has gotten to do a lot of things that a full wolf hasn't. He also has not experienced a lot that a full wolf would.

His first furry friends were a totally confused Bassett hound and an extra large black cat that seemed to think he was a Panther. He got to travel from Las Vegas to Florida. Every state we stopped in, he drew attention. Arizona was the first to really show Koda how special he was.

We met several Native Americans who just fell in love with Koda's gentle attitude. By the time we got to Florida, Koda was ready to be on solid ground. While Koda has never seen a polar bear, he has seen a black bear. While he has never seen a whale, he has been in the surf with manatees and dolphins.

While he has never met a moose he did meet a beautiful white horse. He loves the beach, and his favorite drink is the strawberry daiquiri's from the Old Flagler Tavern. He has hung out with bikers on Flagler Avenue and met several fun people at craft fairs. He has even been to St. Augustine.

When his sister arrived a year later, Koda was excited. As soon as we were home I was on the phone with our friends saying Koda is killing her. My friends calmed me down and I soon realized he was just trying to tell her he was in charge. That lasted all of one day.

Koda has even gotten to meet other wolf dogs in Florida when we went to a Wolf Dog Rendezvous in Ocala. So as I sit here thinking about my beautiful Koda I also think of all the wonderful things he has brought into my life.

While Koda didn't bring Benny and Marie into my life, it is because of him that we are so close. I have learned so much from Koda, Lela, Yona, Skay and Nashoba that no human has been able to teach. When Yona passed away from Cancer, her mate Skay died shortly thereafter. When we had a 6-foot rattle snake in our backyard Miakoda would not let us go back there.

When I injured my back pinching my sciatic, both Koda and Lela would walk on either side of me to make sure I didn't fall. When the pups were at the beach and a little over excited, they rear ended me, sending me flying in the air and flat on my back on the hard-packed sand. Both came over to say they were sorry.

This was also when Koda dragged me into the mailbox chasing our neighbors cat and spraining my ankle. Of course, I think the one injury he felt the worse about was when he dragged me into the one and only telephone pole in our backyard. Yeah, explaining that black eye was fun.

Both Koda and Lela have even been in parades proudly walking down the street as people recognized them. Koda has gotten very spoiled, which is probably my fault. I have to hold an umbrella over his head when he is in the rain. If the grass is too cold, I have to put a towel down so his paws don't get cold.

Photos for NSBNews.net by Pat Miller / Koda's cake looks pretty before being devoured as the wolf dog does some sofa surfing at home.

Both Koda and Lela have even been in parades proudly walking down the street as people recognized them. Koda has gotten very spoiled, which is probably my fault. I have to hold an umbrella over his head when he is in the rain. If the grass is too cold, I have to put a towel down so his paws don't get cold.

I saw him howl terribly when we came upon a dead sea turtle on the beach. He wouldn't leave until the turtle was removed. They have both had their picture done by a local artist, John Hostetter. They are both welcome in many shops on Flagler Avenue and have brought smiles to many.

So as Koda celebrates his 7th birthday, I celebrate his life and all the treasures that have come with it. Wolf dogs are not the animal for everyone, but it doesn't matter you have a special bond with your furry friends and find that they can really show you how to love.

So Happy Birthday Koda, you have never left me sad. I hope that we celebrate many more happy days ahead.

Howls...

NSBNews.net, also known as VolusiaNews.net, provides Volusia County 24 / 7 Internet newspaper coverage, 100% free with breaking news, news of record and investigative reports from New Smyrna Beach, FL, for a 21st-century digital world.