Celebrating Our Alpha Queen's 18th Birthday on #FlashbackFriday

HAPPY 18th Birthday at the Rainbow Bridge, our gorgeous alpha queen, Harley! 

Today's Flashbacks are from various birthdays over the years...

There is a B-I-G party going on north of the Rainbow Bridge! It's the birthdate of our beautiful first Siberian Husky, and the alpha queen of the FiveSibes pack ~ Nanuk "Harley" Mari ~ who would be 18 years old today! 

While I know in reality she would not be here now, it is so wonderful to remember her and how she snuggled up to Gibson, and raised three pupsters that were not of her blood as her very own. Harley was the perfect picture of a Siberian Husky - her beautiful stunning blue eyes and black mask gave her the true princess look - I used to think of her like Cleopatra of the canine world. Her "eyeliner" perfect. She was so intelligent, and so fast! This girl loved to play a very enthusiastic game of Fetch, so much so that she would out play me! Some days it was hard to even get her to end the game. Even when she was a senior at age 12, she'd run until the wind was knocked out of her. When she almost passed out, I knew it was time to retire her favorite game. But even indoors, this girl loved to play tug-o-war with a stuffy and chase her tail for minutes at a time. 

Our forever alpha queen, Harley.

Harley embraced our three Pupsters, Wolfie, Chloe, and Bandit, as though they were her own, raising them, teaching them the Husky way, and snuggling with them at night. While she would dispense love and hugs to us humans on her terms, she could just a swiftly become "Snarley Harley" if you bothered her while she was napping, but then quickly regret it and ply you with "forgive me" kisses. (We do believe she learned those snarls from our old senior rescue dog, Chelsey, who was very arthritic at age 13 and developed canine dementia, so at times, she would snarl, something that was so out of character for her, but a direct result to her dementia). And birthday parties...well, they were always so exciting, and always cake!

Woo! Cake time for all!

Harley was my daughter's dog. She dreamed of having a Siberian Husky. And one day, when we felt she was ready to care for a pup on her own, we surprised her with a ride where she had her pick of three beautiful puppies. It was love at first sight with one, who she named Harley. Harley became a part of our family, and went everywhere with us. She was from a wonderful responsible breeder (we are talking 2005, so rescues and the Internet were not as popular as today). She lived a wonderful 14.5 years before in September of 2019, we had to help her cross the Rainbow Bridge, which she did at home, outside on a clear day with birds chirping on her bed on the deck she loved so much with us and the Pupsters right by her side. But even at 14.5, with frailty setting in as well as elderly dog health issues (some she pridefully tried to hide), she still ruled the pack family and loved her floofy tail right up until her last breath in as she was held lovingly for eternity. As my daughter once said, "She was the most badass dog." And she surely was.

 

Harley sure was a superstar, and she knew it! She graced the covers for pet magazines, was a model for one of my magazine articles on pet photography, and the star of her own children's book. 

We have been so blessed with sharing our lives with five amazing Siberian Huskies...and Harley was definitely the queen, and Mother of Huskies, and she will reign in our hearts forever more. 

Dear Harley. Happy Birthday, beautiful. I hope you are having amazing snow zoomies with your love Gibson and Pupsters, Wolfie, Chloe, and Bandit ~ all of my beloved FiveSibes reunited together forever. You were one of a kind and such a special girl. We love you and miss you, Momma Har, for always.

~Your Forever FiveSibesMoms 

 

A Bridge Called Love

 

It takes us back to brighter years,
to happier sunlit days
and to precious moments
that will be with us always.

And these fond recollections
are treasured in the heart
to bring us always close to those
from whom we had to part.

There is a bridge of memories
from Earth to Heaven above…
It keeps our dear ones near us
It’s the bridge that we call love.

~Unknown

 

 

💛 Memories Are Visits For the Heart 💛

 

 

  

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