Duke came to me in December of 1998, he was a year and a half old. He was rescued by the breeder my friend Shellie got her dane Cash from in Wisconsin. He was so weak when he came to her he could barely lift his leg to relieve himself. After a short time with her, she started looking for a forever home for him. Shellie had told her about me, and they wondered if I was interested. He needed a home with someone who would be around for him all the time...he had spent the first two years of his life either tied on a short chain in the back yard or in a crate. He was emaciated, shy, and very much a velcro Dane starved for attention. I had already fallen in love with the breed from meeting Shellie's two danes, Cash and Bud when I worked at her grooming shop as a bather.

Cash On Guard & Cash In Black

Duke turned from a shy, aloof dane to a wonderful, mellow, loving boy. He couldn't stand to be away from me, as long as I was in his sight, he was content. He hated having his picture taken, would cower and whine and whimper...what a chicken <g>

He was well known as the mascot and customer service of The Grooming Gallery, and many a client would stop by just to see Duke. He entertained and attracted people every year at the Business Expo's and Mini Lessons on pet care at a local grade school. I never once took him for a walk without someone stopping to meet and play with him. He loved to sit on your lap, would back up and flop his whole hind end into your lap as if it was a perfectly natural place for him to be. He would often get the zoomies, running around the yard at full speed, enjoying life. He hated to be outside for long, climbing up on the picnic table and shoving his nose against the kitchen window to demand that he be let back inside to find his mommy. He was my eyes and ears in the grooming shop, always letting me know when someone walked in with an intimidating WOOF!, but once the person met him, they too saw nothing but the big gentle baby that he was.

He filled out wonderfully over the years, exceeding our expectations by filling out to a nice 160 pounds. He stood 36" at the shoulder, and had one goofy ear that flopped inward from a failed crop. He loved cuddling with Tobee, my ragdoll, and they were often found sharing a bed or couch together.

Duke died on December 22, 2002. I woke up a few days before that to find him dazed, pools of slimy mucus vomit on the floor. He was rushed to the vet, where a diagnosis of bloat was confirmed. I decided to go ahead with the surgery despite the low chances that he would make it through it due to his bad start in life and his "older" age of six years. He made it through the surgery and came home the next day. He would not eat or drink for the vet, so they felt he was better off at home, with me. He was all right for a few days, finally had started eating and perking up, when he went outside to go to the bathroom. When he came back in and sat down on his couch, his stitches split open. We rushed him back to the vet, who said to leave him overnight since it was already pretty late in the day. I fully expected him to come home, stitched up and good as new.

He died that night at the vets.

I fully believe that this wonderful baby of mine was just holding out for me, to give me those last few days with him to say good-bye. He was well loved and will forever be missed as a companion, The Grooming Gallery mascot, and most of all, a loving friend.

Rest in peace Duke, you will never be forgotten.

Please click here to learn more about bloat. It could save your Dane's life.

Want a Dane? Rescue! There are many many Danes in need out there that would make wonderful pets to those with a heart and a home for them. Check out your local rescue organizations and Great Dane Rescue. You will never regret it.