AKITA REFLECTIONS
Just Your Average Akita
Kumo’s Story
by his owner, Cyndi Crum
Kumo was always a very special
Akita but he also was pretty typical in his stubborn, I-want-it-my-way attitude,
even as a puppy.
He adored children and was very
protective of our daughter. In fact, he was a godsend with our
foster-daughter who told me many horrible stories about her life of abuse and
neglect. One day she told me she had a secret that she was not allowed to
tell anyone. She kept telling me this over and over, so I knew she was looking
for a way to tell me. Kumo had a special fondness for her, and always knew
when she was upset. He would follow her to her room and cuddle with her,
knowing she needed a friend. I told her Kumo is great at keeping secrets, he
never tells anyone when you tell him something and that she could tell him her
secret. I thought this would help her feel comfortable about telling me her
secret when she was ready. One day she did just that. It was an unimaginable
horror that to this day haunts me when I think about it. All I could do
was hug her and cry with her and never want to let her go. It is something that
changed her life forever and that will haunt her memories for the rest of her
life. I really believe that had it not been for my Akita Kumo and his wonderful
sensitive ways that this secret would have stayed buried inside her and would
have surely destroyed her.
He was also the self-appointed lifeguard of our in-ground pool. When he was in
the house and heard a splash, he would run and barge through my back door to get
outside to the pool. I had a friend who would visit with an infant. When the
friend was in the pool she would leave the infant in her stroller. Kumo would
sit right next to that baby the whole time her mother was in the pool and when
the baby started to cry and her mother didn't respond fast enough, Kumo would go
to the edge of the pool and bark at her until she would get out and tend to her
baby.
 He
was a certified therapy dog with Therapy Dogs inc. and enjoyed visiting nursing
homes and hospitals but preschools were his favorite.
He was here to see my daughter off to her first day of kindergarten and he was
here to see her off to her first formal in high school and greet with her kisses
when she came home.
We treasure every moment we had
with that wonderful dog. It takes hard work and consistency in their training
and socialization but it pays off when the end result is being able to share
your life with such a wonderful being.
Kumo 3-92 to 3-01
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