After three years of Viognier and I avoiding each other, I came to the conclusion I was living in a house that had two alpha bitches in it.  Viognier  (Vinny) and myself.  She would seek attention from my husband and would totally ignore me.  She let me help with her first litter only to escape the whelping box and leave me with the cleaning!  I guess in reality we were jealous of each other and Joe’s attention, however she is a certified Delta Therapy dog and I would bring her to Taylor Junior High School where she was adored by the Special Needs kids and certainly followed in her Sire’s work (Ch. Lemils Midnight Devil, CDX, WAE, Th.D.  She could pick out the child in need of consoling and would spend time next to that child and the day in the Seriously Emotionally Handicapped class progressed nicely.  We even brought her pups to the classroom for socialization.  However, as usual Viognier ignored me and them and doted on the students. 

When we moved to Flagstaff, I joined the “Paws to Read” program and brought Viognier.  She would sit and listen to the children read to her and you never knew that she did not understand a word of Navajo or English.  What an amazing girl.  On a lark, I signed her up for Agility and she took to it immediately!  She could do front and back crosses and we had most obstacles down with ease.  That summer I think we came to see that we needed each other.  Along with the “Paws to Read” program we would go weekly to the Hozhoni Foundation and visit the severely handicapped adults.  Vigonier’s favorite was Chico a 34 year old young man who was their resident artist who adored her and her him. 

All I had to do was say Chico and she was at the door ready to visit.  Chico would guide her from room to room and where clients such as Sara, the totally blind girl who could not stand or move without aid and never spoke except when she heard Viognier come into the room and then she would giggle and say “doggie”.  She would lie on the mat next to Sara and Sara could feel her warmth and snuggle closer.  There were other clients that Viognier would bring smiles to such as the autistic older man who could only count to seven but Viognier allowed him to count to seven on her nipples.

In the higher functioning rooms, she would sit next to the neediest and then get her picture taken with them so they would always have a constant memory of her when we weren’t there. 

This October, Viognier was diagnosed with an inoperable nasal sarcoma and was given 4 months to live.  She is now on Chinese herbs and acupuncture and still visits the Flagstaff middle school and Hozhoni.  The students have written poignant letter to her assuring her she will go to heaven and help their friends and parents waiting for her.  I could barely read one a day and they would all ask did I understand their handwriting.  Last month her favorite Chico from Hozhoni suffered a fatal seizure.  My only consolation in losing Chico and eventually Vigonier is that they will be together soon and hopefully at some point she will have Chico with her. 

She has teaches the middle school children about cancer, cancer diets, and death and dying.  She still continues to go and we carefully bring tissues in case a blood vessel breaks and she has a nasal bleed.  She has brought dry lentils to the kids and taught them what lentil soup is, but most of all she has taught them and myself love and understanding. 

The only thing she can not do and is upset about is agility.  The tumor is spreading across her breathing passage and she can’t do the obstacles as she used to.  She will continue to go the Middle School and Hozhoni until I see pain in her eyes and she lets me know she has had enough, but she brings such joy to all she sees that I can only thank Delta  Society for having Therapy dogs and Taz her dad for producing in her his ability to communicate.