I am wolf...It is my cry you hear in the night, my eyes that gaze at you from the shadows. It is my heart that beats in your soul, my strength that makes you whole. I am wolf. I am in you. You are in me. We are wolf.

This site is dedicated to the most wonderful four-legged creature that ever blessed my life.

The best way I can describe my feelings for her, is that she was like my daughter....and my best friend....all rolled into one.

Her spirit lives on in the hearts of those who loved and knew her.

Nikona came from the great Carson Valley in Nevada, a very large ranch there, owned by dear friends of mine. This elderly gentleman and his wife rescued and raised mid to high content wolfdogs. At the time Nikona was born, he had two packs on site, both in 2-acre enclosures.

I spent many years studying the wolves and wolfdogs, both in books and hours upon hours at the Nevada ranch with the animals themselves. My job took me out to that area almost 1 week a month for 13 years, so I had the opportunity to spend a great deal of time with the animals. I got to know them all by name, and they got to know me. Most of all, I got to know the ways of the wolf and wolfdog. I worked my way into the enclosures. I would sit with them, they would come to me, some played, some just would lie at my feet. I talked to them, they listened. Sometimes, I really believe they knew what I was saying.

Here's Nikona at 6 months old, she loved lying in the rays of sunlight in front of the fireplace/woodstove.

On one of my trips to the ranch, back in the spring of 1991, I was met at the gate before entering the yard around the house by my friend and his wife. "Come with us" they said and we walked up to an large outdoor pen. "Take your pick.....you are ready" said his wife. Wolfdog pups were jumping and running and biting and I was speechless.

Nikona at her best weight.

Nikona's father was named Yukon. Yukon was 100% timberwolf. When he stood up on his hind legs against the fence to greet me, his head was higher than mine. I'm 5' 11" tall. Her mother's name was Prarie, she was 1/2 red wolf/Husky mix, and 1/2 timberwolf.

She grew up to be a very pretty lady, shy to strangers, devoted to me and Mary, and to her older "sister", Ginger, who was 1/2 Husky 1/2 Akita. Nikona "babysat" Ginger in her final stages of life, as Ginger had lost her hearing and alot of her eyesight. Nikona was by her side everywhere she went in the house and out in the yard, to guide her and protect her from danger. It was simply an awesome sight to watch.

Nikona's life got pretty tough health wise, in her later years. She was diagnosed with Cushings disease when she was 8 years old. Cushings is usually non-fatal disease, but causes the body to "barrel" in shape. It's a benign tumor on the pituitary gland.

In June of 2000, the real tragedy struck when Nikona went into congestive heart failure, at only 9 years old. With our vet's assistance, we were able to get her admitted to South Paws Emergency Pet Care Center in Springfield, Virginia, where a very good vet cardiologist discovered the "cause" and came up with the right combination of medicines to "suppress" it. He saved her life, and a big part of ours. She had developed an "arythmia". The different heart medications cost us $258.00 a month, but you cannot put a price on life.

She put on weight due to the Cushings and the medicine, but ate sensibly. She knew her limits, since 1/3 of her heart stayed in fibrilation. She continued to be the strong spirited, loving animal/family member that she had always been.

We helped her get some of the weight off as time went on and her coat began to turn gray, but she was a very pretty wolfdog.

As time rolled on, she began to look older than just 11. She always followed me upstairs in the afternoon when I got home from work, and layed on the bed next to the window while I changed into my "around the house clothes". She just wanted to be near me.

Two years after her almost fatal congestive heart failure encounter, I awoke on a Monday morning to go to work and found her very sick. Congestive heart failure had taken over again and could not be stopped this time. We rushed her to the vet who met us there and opened up early for us. Nikona went to sleep....forever...in my arms, with my head against hers. I whispered "I love you forever", as she made her journey to the Rainbow Bridge.

Someday, we will be together again....someday.