If any of you reading this have or know of someone who has a GSD whose dam was Jamie aus der Eremitenklause, I am sad to tell you that today I had to put her to sleep because of a fast growing mammary tumor.

I took Jamie a few weeks before her American owner Susan Barwig passed away several years ago. I was hesitant at first because I was told she would bite people and fight with dogs. Fortunately, I never had one ounce of trouble with her.

She came to love me and my cat Sammy. In fact, Sammy was the love of her life and she his. Jamie preferred to herd Sammy more than just about anything except eat. He would lie next to her and stroke her muzzle. It was something to see.

I was most astonished one night when I was watching a tape which had Susan on it doing some dog training. Jamie clearly recognized Susan's voice and watched and listened to that tape for its' entire length.

I will miss Jamie very much, but I hope she is finally reunited with her first true love, Susan. I am very sad, but I am also very fortunate to have had Jamie for so many years.