Dear Sylvia,
I haven't been on your website in a while and while visiting today,
was appalled to read the letters concerning the visit on one Sheila
Tay a.k.a. Sheila Wagner. If I can get my two cents in, (you can publish
this if you'd like) I have never visited Skansen Kennel but hope to
do so.
A few years ago, my husband and I decided we wanted to own a Giant
Schnauzer. We had always had Miniature Schnauzers and our baby, BJ
was approaching the age of 15 and was beginning to show his age. He
had been our baby for so long, traveled with us, slept with us and
was such a delight but we knew we were going to be losing him shortly.
We decided it would be too painful for us to get another Miniature
like him because he was our love and it would be hard to look into
another face like his, plus we didn't think any would compare to him
and it wouldn't be fair for us to judge another puppy by him. He played
drums and had once auditioned for the David Letterman show. Because
we are definitely Schnauzer people, we decided to go to the other
end of the spectrum. BJ was miniature and light pepper and salt so
we went giant and black.
I set out to find the best breeder in the country and happened to
find the best breeder in the world. Every kennel I checked out either
started out with a Skansen or has a Skansen somewhere in their background.
I searched high and low and always kept coming back to Skansen. I
decided to phone the Skansen Kennel and got to talk to Sylvia herself.
She was extremely gracious and answered every question I had with
kindness, knowledge and patience. It was quite evident she absolutely
loves her dogs and would never do anything or allow anything to be
done by anyone else that would be detrimental to the health or happiness
of her dogs. After speaking both to Sylvia and Carrie several times
over the course of a week, our beloved Tjupa (Skansen's Drop the Tjupa)
came to us in September of 2004. He was the most beautiful, gentle,
well behaved dog I had ever laid eyes on. He was very healthy and
he carries himself with the utmost dignity and grace. He loves playing
outside and loves us to kick soccer balls to him. He can catch a ball
in his mouth and bring it back but makes us have to take it away from
him, that's half the fun! He has brightened up our lives like no other
has. Upon his arrival, Sylvia asked me call her to let her know he
had arrived safely. That's a concerned mother! He was well socialized,
very well behaved ( ornery when he wants to be), and extremely gentle.
He loves long walks where there are a lot of people that will stop
and talk to him and pet him. He takes it all in stride, head held
high like he's thinking "I know I'm regal, go ahead and touch
me if you will."
My husband decided he wanted a female companion for Tjupa so I, once
again, contacted Sylvia. I would NEVER think of going anywhere else
for a Schnauzer! I told her I wanted a female for Tjupa and she picked
one out for us. We received out beloved Tasha (Skansen's Tjupa's Dream
Girl) in January of 2005. Her ears were still taped and she was such
a little girl compared to big man Tjupa. However, she soon took over
the household, Tjupa as well, and thinks she's the alpha. We've always
having to remind her who the real alpha's of the house are. She loves
to go outside and catch balls with Tjupa and they are quite the pair.
She can't stand for anything to be left in an upright position. If
we hear a crash, we know Tasha has, once again, knocked something
over and we can find her standing over it looking at it like wondering
"how did that happen?" She also loves to watch a toilet
flush. I haven't figured out why it's so fascinating to her but she
has to watch it. Needless to say, I cannot go to the bathroom alone.
If she doesn't catch you when you enter the bathroom, she comes running
when she hears the toilet flush. What a girl! We can't go anywhere
without being stopped by people who want to take a picture of our
dogs or have their kids pictures taken with our Giants. Our lives
would not be complete without them and we are forever thankful Sylvia,
Carrie and the Skansen Kennel came into our lives.
Earlier this year, I was approached by the Make a Wish foundation
because there was a boy in my state that had a brain tumor and was
undergoing some very aggressive chemo therapy and his wish was to
have a Giant Schnauzer puppy. At the time, we were going to allow
Tjupa and Tasha to breed as Tasha was past her second birthday, so
my husband and I agreed to donate (they offered to pay) a puppy to
Make A Wish for this sick boy. Tasha did conceive but lost her puppies
between 25 and 32 days. Needless to say, we were devastated. Not just
because of the puppies, but for the boy who had so looked forward
to having his wish finally come true. None of us were sure if he would
last long enough for Tasha to go into heat again so my husband suggested
I contact Sylvia and ask her if she would help us out in any way with
this wish. I talked to Carrie and she said she was well aware of the
good things the Make A Wish foundation does to help those who are
very ill. She told me when to call back so I could talk to Sylvia
about it. When I talked to Sylvia, she stated she would be glad to
talk to the foundation and asked me to give them her phone number,
which I did. About two weeks after I spoke with Sylvia, the director
(I'm not sure if that's the right title) of the Make A Wish foundation
for the Midwest phoned me to say that after numerous phone calls,
to get arrangements cemented, back and forth between both Carrie,
Sylvia and herself, that Sylvia had picked out a little female Giant
Schnauzer pup that she was going to fly here for the ill boy. I had
told Sylvia that the Make A Wish foundation had some money to spend
but I didn't know how much, however, Sylvia chose to donate the $2,600
Giant pup, the kennel it traveled in, all necessary vet and health
inspection papers, as well as air fare. I don't know how many breeders
would have been as generous. I've had some people say, "Sure,
that's a write-off for her". I really don't give a rip whether
it is or not or whether she's going to use if as one or not. The fact
is SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO GIVE THIS PUP TO A TERMINALLY ILL BOY FREE OF
ALL EXPENSE. Out of the kindness of her heart and knowing that this
boy and his family would truly cherish this Giant puppy, she made
a boy's wish come true for whatever time he has left.
As far as we're concerned, Sylvia, her staff and all animals of Skansen
Kennel are top notch and I let everyone who stops us with our Giant's
(and there's lots and lots of people who do as they go everywhere
with us) know, proudly, that they are Skansen's!
God Bless,
Anne Hartness