April 9, 2004, friends and loved ones of the Mitani family of Streamwood, Illinois and MARS mourned the passing of Malcolm Mitani. Malcolm was a special friend of MARS and Akitas which he loved having adopted two from us and owning two previously. He leaves his fur kids in the care of his wife Kathie and we know that Mal will be checking down on Kathie and his fur babies.

MARS was honored to be the recipient of memorial donations made in Malcolm's memory and as a tribute to the love this man and his family showed to our breed, we would like to create Malcolm's Corner which will stand for a memorial dedication site to Honor Akitas that have touched our hearts and lives.   We want to remember all of our friends that are absent from this earth in body, but not from our minds.  May they continue on in a peaceful journey until our paths cross again.  They will never leave our thoughts as we constantly are reminded of their presence in the fur-babies that we encounter which breathe life into our memories of our departed. 

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart. Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author Unknown

KAZUKI’S JOURNEY

Journey—a traveling from one place to another, usually taking a rather long time, or a passage or progress from one stage to another.

On September 4, 2007 Kazuki made one final journey and crossed to the Rainbow Bridge. His story, and the wonderful family that truly opened their hearts and their home to this special boy, will continue to inspire many of us for years to come. We hope it will inspire you also.........

As 2006 draws to a close, MARS has placed approximately forty Akitas in loving homes, assisted numerous shelters and all breed rescues place their Akita orphans, and provided guidance to many owners.  While all orphans are equal in our eyes, the journey each travels is very unique.  In reviewing which orphan’s story would best summarize our efforts over the past year, one dog’s journey stood out—Kazuki.  Partly because of his character, partly because of his eleventh hour adoption, but mainly, because along his journey through rescue, those who came to know Kaz found themselves making insightful journeys of their very own. 

Through physical adversity and loneliness Kazuki never abandoned the shining spirit of the Akita, it dimmed but never went out.  Through the determination of our volunteers, the help of our friends, the generosity of our donors, and the unconditional love of a very special family, MARS was able to assist an old and unwanted Akita on his journey to a forever home.  Along the way Kaz compelled many of us to take our own journey— to find the place deep inside ourselves that whispers—never say never.

I had to let Kazuki go today. I miss him painfully......

Vonna and Jack Ritter

NIKKO
3/1/92 - 7/15/2005

Now he's gone and life just will never be the same......

Nikko is survived by his "Dads" John Dallamana of Honolulu, Hawaii, Bill Sather of Phoenix Arizona and Tom Calhoun of St. Louis Missouri.

TENSHI
(Japanese for Angel)

...a loving/devoted/part of my family that has passed and left a terrible void in my life.She was my best friend.

Duanna Jorgensen

Bear I will always miss your big butt in front of the file cabinet and will miss your big heart even more.  Rest gently my friend - you were loved......

Deanna O'Brien

Malcolm's AikoThis is our beloved Aiko with Malcolm. The two of them had an incredible bond. As you can see, Aiko adored her Daddy. She worshiped the ground he walked on as did her.

I miss you Aiko, the house is quiet without your wooing. Take care of my Malcolm as I know you always have.

Love,
Kathie Mitani

Here is another of Malcolm's buddy...This is BooBoo. His name fit him very well, he was a typical Akita....he was always showing his stubborn streak. He always was in trouble,  to this day when ever anything goes wrong in the house we just say BooBoo did it.

Dedicated in loving memory to Charlie.  You are dearly missed by all, and your spirit lives on in our hearts and souls. 
--All of MARS and the Lisa McCluskey & Kevin Small Families

January 15, 2005

In a period of less than six month's time I have suffered the loss of two very special canine soul mates:

Champion Gin No Taiyo Count O Midnite, TT, CGC [Bucky]
11/11/1992 - 1/14/2005

Champion Midnite Apparition [Spirit]
10/28/2002 - 7/24/2004

Over many years [never mind just how many of them] I have shared this journey through life with quite a few beloved canine companions and four legged family members.

A very few of those dogs were almost impossible to train. Some were merely a bit difficult to train. Many, many of my little furry friends were just wonderful dogs that were a joy to live with and easy to train.

Once they were trained, people would often comment upon how 'smart' those dogs were. Well, a lot of them weren't actually all that smart. They were simply very well trained. And a few of them were actually dumber than doorknobs. But they were very well trained doorknobs.

Then there have been those few extra special canine 'old souls,' such as Bucky and Spirit. Those dogs were indeed both intelligent and intuitive. I don't believe that I can remember ever spending any time at all actually training either of them to do anything at all. They just simply and always seemed to do almost anything at all that I ever asked of them, from young puppy-hood to the very last second of their lives.

However they did it, they just always seemed to know exactly what I wanted, and often they would know that even before I knew it. I simply have no explanation as to why that was so. It just was.

We had a deep and abiding bond such that it seemed that they could almost read my mind. There was indeed a mental and spiritual connection there of some type. It was a bond that was obvious to anyone who observed us together, and many people have commented about that over the years, either directly to me, or to mutual good friends.

I may never see their like again. I may never enjoy such a total connection with another dog ever again. I certainly will never see them again in this world. And I am feeling bad about feeling so sad, if that makes any sense, because I do know they would not want me to feel so sad about them. They were all about the true joy of life and of living.

Some people go an entire lifetime without ever enjoying the experience of such a 'one-minded' bonding and sharing with a fellow creature. I do realize that I have been both fortunate and blessed to experience such a thing more than once.

Bucky and Spirit, I will miss you both for as long as my heart still beats and my lungs draw breath. My two lovely boys, you have left such deep paw prints in my heart.

Author/Owner Lynn Morgan