Ode to a matriarch
A very moving Tribute to Lilly by Elisabeth von Buchwaldt
Fifteen years have passed since I decided that it was time for my beloved Toggy to get a young bride.
I was at Crufts in Birmingham that year and Karabiber Melis was the british superstar. I admired her for her beauty but my favourite dog had always been Norton, from Judy Chappel, for his look and wonderful mellow character. A Norwegian girl called Heidi, a friend of Judy had a litter sister from Norton, named Koya. She just mated her by artificial insemination to Babylon, Melis father, a turkish import. Of course this combination was irresistible to me and so I reserved and bought a female puppy long before it was born.
I could hardly wait for my dream puppy, with Melis looks and Norton temper.
As I flew to Norway to pick up my Lilly, it was snowing, bitterly cold and stormy. It was dark as I finally arrived at Heidi's place. A cheerful bunch of pups rushed to welcome me. They were all big and beautiful except for one, who was the smallest puppy in the litter, a black faced little girl.
She was obviously the leader of the pack, and decided that no other puppy was supposed to come close to me. Of course she was the one who chose me and there was no discussion about it. She was nothing like Melis, and the opposite of Norton. She was the most dominant puppy I have seen so far, with hypnotic dark yellow eyes.
Lilly flew back home with me in the cabin. She showed no sign of fear or even the smallest kind of insecurity. She was quite simply the queen.
From the first moment Toggy and Lilly met, I knew that it would be a wonderful love story. Even if Lilly decided what they would both do, when they would sleep or play.
Lilly was already at very young age intolerant and aggressive to other dogs, especially females and would not tolerate the slightest contradiction, no matter how big and strong her opponent was. There was something in her eyes, signalising determination and no mercy, that kept every dog in a secure distance of her .No one ever dared to challenge it.
I remember one day for example as my friend Ariane and I were out with our 5 Kangal dogs. Tarak, Ariane’s adult male Kangal caught a rabbit and came back, so proud of his prey. All other dogs were around him, keeping a respectful distance. Tarak had no sense of humour about his food. Suddenly very calm but resolute, Lilly approached him, stopped only a step away and stared at him. We were expecting a bad fight to start and were getting in panic. Tarak hesitated only a second and slowly dropped the dead rabbit . Lilly simply took it and ate it completely while the other were watching her full of envy. Her dinner had just been served.
Tiger Lilly‘s reputation did not get any better after the killing of at least 5 foxes, some wild cats and a young boar. Not to count the Bisam rats, hares, Iltis etc.
Lilly turned to be a large female, beautiful and sound. She was world winner among other titles until she decided that she did not want to be a show dog any longer. She simply lay down in front of the ring and refused to get in. I had to laugh about so much determination and never took her again to a show.
She was three years old as Toggy died. She was mourning as much as I did, refused to eat, to play or even to be petted.
I was sure that she needed a new companion. I did not want another male, Toggy ‘s memory was still so painful and no other dog could ever be compared to him. I was told by all experts that it would be impossible to keep another female beside Lilly. She would kill them. I was sure that only with such a self-confident Alpha dog as Lilly was, it would be possible to have another female.
Ceylan first weeks in her new home with us were for sure not the easiest. Lilly would attack her every time Ceylan sought a bit contact. But she never ever hurt her. It took a few weeks, until Lilly decided that it was enough education and Ceylan was respectful enough. They are since the very best team, and never ever had a fight.
As Ceylan got her puppies, I was worried about the situation, and could not be more surprised as Lilly decided that they would share the care of the puppies. Two moms are just perfect. I kept Buddha, and she was always Lilly’s big baby. These were happy and harmonious years.
Lilly was four years old as the terrible incident in Hamburg with a Pitt-bull killing a child happened.
12 dogs breeds, including the Kangal were considered from that day on as dangerous and had to pass immediately a character test. Dogs that did not pass these tests would be confiscated and euthanized.
You can imagine how devasting these news were for me. How could my Tiger Lilly ever pass such tests?
My vet advised me to give Lilly one hour before the test a tranquiliser ( Valium). He gave me only one pill.
One hour before the test, Lilly was completely relaxed and self confident as always. I was so nervous and frightened, that I decided to take the tablet myself.
The tests were horrible .We had to go through a park with loads of dogs running free, some of them really nasty. Some drunk actors stumbled over Lilly, then a whole kinder garden came to pet her, screaming and gesticulating wildly. A minute later I had to tie her to a tree and go away while some people started teasing her with sticks.
Lilly was unbelievable. Nothing bothered her, she ignored all atempts and provocations, never showed the slightest sign of aggression, as if she knew it was a matter of life and death. She passed the tests with the highest score ever. I was so happy and surprised.
On the way back home she did not miss to growl at every single dog we passed by…
Lilly was almost ten years as Python arrived. From the beginning on, she considered him as a possible usurpator to her throne and kept him in at a respectful distance. She was very strict with him, and did not hesitate to show it. Although Python is a very dominant male, he will not threaten the old lady and ignores her as far as possible.
All I ever needed to learn about educating dogs Lilly taught me. She was always so sure in her actions, and whenever I had problems with one of my dogs I only had to think about what Lilly would do. And she was always right. I am so thankful for having had her and love her more and more the older she got. She has always been very kind and gentle to people, and especially to my little granddaughter Luciana.
With eleven years, she was not as fit as she used to be. Her old bones had some arthritis, and she could not run as fast and long as the others. So I went everyday for an extra calm walk with her, and she deeply enjoyed the time we spend together, only the two of us.
Some weeks later, as we were passing someone’s property, two Rottweilers suddenly run out through the open gate and attacked her. They would not stop fighting and biting her, even after she was not able to defend herself anymore. Only with my last bit of desperate power I was able to stop the fight. Lilly was bleeding from many wounds and under shock. She could hardly make it to the car and then to the vet. Only with local anaesthesia, the vet cleaned and sewed all her wounds.
Lilly had a bad time and was hardly able to move. Her eyes were dull, filled with silent pain and resignation. I was crying with her, feeling so sorry and sad.
Two weeks later, as I was taking the threads out of the wounds, she suddenly looked at me. Her eyes were bright again and the fighting spirits back. I know she wanted to tell me not to worry and not be sad, and that next time she will kill the two of them for sure!
Three years passed since.
Yesterday , on her fourteenth year, she took the decision to go. She refused to eat or drink, and would not stand up. She just raised her head, looked at me, and I knew immediately that it was time to say good bye.
The vet came to my home, she was laying as always beside my bed. I took her head in my arms and she went, peacefully and full of confidence.
I love and miss you so much my Lilly, although I know that dogs like you will never die, they just fade away.
