Marko in Memory

March 4, 1988 - September 15, 1995
(bred in the working dog department of the Vienna police)

Marko came to me in July 1989 at the age of 15 months. He was the first dog after a nine year long dog abstinent time. German Shepherds have already been family members after the War, and so I decided for this breed. It should be a grown up dog, as it should also be in the office, so search began. Customs and police from time to time placed dogs which were not suitable for their purposes. In the working dog department of Vienna police 2 German Shepherds were available: a five year old female (Marko's dam) and the 15 months old Marko. I chose him because he was very approachable and extremely friendly. This dog (without pedigree papers) was being surrendered due to temperament issues. As it turned out a little later, however, Marko was anything but temperamentally challenged: I had him assessed by a protection dog trainer, and he was very good at protection work, even exceptionally strong in civil defense. I was advised to have him x-rayed, and that's when I learned the reason for his surrender: severe hip dysplasia. I had surgery done on Marko to give him a chance of reaching a somewhat "normal" age and living a reasonably decent life. I then learned that, unlike the Austrian Armed Forces, the police at that time didn't adhere to any canine breeding guidelines, but simply bred dogs as needed.

Since the purchase agreement stated "weak temperament, otherwise healthy" as the reason for relinquishing the dog, I informed the police and requested a partial refund of the purchase price (which had been almost as high as the price for a dog with a pedigree), but this was refused. The law was on my side, so I sued the Republic of Austria, representing the police, and won: The police had to refund half the purchase price and cover all legal and court costs. Because the Republic didn't pay immediately after the judgment became legally binding, my lawyer filed a motion to seize a property for auction; only then was payment made promptly.

During the court proceedings, I also learned that Marko had been assigned to four different dog handlers in Vienna and Linz before being surrendered. Now it was clear why this dog was so incredibly clingy, almost obsessively so. He had never learned to play; I had to teach him that. At the training grounds, I observed that Marko didn't constantly seek me out when other dogs were around, and so I decided: a second dog had to come into the house. Another German Shepherd was out of the question for me; at the time, I had my eye on a Doberman, but at an international dog show in Vienna, a breed I hadn't known before caught my eye: the Briard. On December 14, 1990, Marko's future playmate, Sándor, came to live with us, and he was an absolute blessing for this male dog. He finally became a proper dog, learning to play and romp around with other dogs, which he thoroughly enjoyed. For Sándor, Marko was the perfect teacher, because he - unbelievable to many - was a dog without a single flaw. Sándor learned only good things from him, both at home and in the city, as Marko was taken to the office from the very beginning and traveled daily on the train and subway.

In December 1992, a Briard bitch, Sándor's daughter (Arwa Betkin dvor), came to live with us, and she too learned a great deal from Marko. Almost a year later, the mother of this girl (Arwa Zevar) also came to live with me. For her, Marko was the love of her life, as she had lived with German Shepherds. The two were inseparable until Marko's death.

Marko was also a wonderful playmate for my first litter, usually far too patient with the little rascals. If it became too much for him, he would leave—he would never have seriously reprimanded a puppy.

Unfortunately, Marko's condition worsened due to his hip dysplasia during the winter of 1994/1995. It suddenly dawned on me that I would soon have to say goodbye to this dog. I wasn't keen on giving him painkillers for an extended period; it wasn't a long-term solution, and another operation was no longer possible. In my opinion, an animal should die with dignity, and so the decision was made to accompany Marko on his final journey while he was still reasonably able to walk on all four legs. It wasn't easy, and the particularly difficult part was that I had to set the date for the farewell well in advance, because Marko was to be put to sleep at home, peacefully, in his familiar surroundings. My veterinarian, who specializes in such matters, had greyhounds herself and was active in both showing and racing them. So, a weekend had to be found when she was available: Day X was September 15^th, 1995.

I never want to go through such a time again - it's hell when you count down the weeks, then the days, and finally the hours. Nevertheless, it was the right decision: because of his hip surgery and the many follow-up treatments, Marko was always very stressed at the vet, and I wanted to spare him that stress. Never in his life had Marko been so calm and composed during an injection, and for the first time in months, his eyes were clear again, without any sign of pain - as if he knew he was finally being released. Marko lay in my arms as he began his journey across the Rainbow Bridge. As awful as that moment was, I hope that when the time comes, I can say goodbye to all my animals in such peace.

Marko is unforgettable, and I am grateful for his "training" of some of my dogs and for every day I was able to spend with him, even though our time together was far too short.