A very special kind of Friendship

In the Leonberger Chronik I found the story of an English soldier who met (amongst some other dogs) one dog who "catched his eyes and moved his emotions".

This happend somewhere on the Austrian-Italian-boarder - and the dogs where meant to be put down to make soap out of them (1945).

This English soldier - Mr. Dave Gower - bought the dog for 10 bars of soap - and spending several months of time he managed it to get Golden Sunset, as he named the Leonberger, under the Army pets scheme to UK.

Finally Golden Sunset arrived in quarantine kennels in 1946.

And after Mr. Gower realised that he bought a "rare-breed-dog" he tried to find a female for Golden Sunset.

After nearly 3 years - in late 1949 - he was able to buy a Leonberger bitch from Germany; unfortunately the bitch was killed by a lorry as she slipped her collar.

Wasted time - several problems - but finally he was able to buy "Jasminka v. Heidekaten".

Golden Sunset was called "Wilson" and Jasminka was called "Lassie" - and Mr. Gower started breeding. Unfortunately the surviving puppy "Buck" had no chance to reproduce.

Therefore none of the present day Leonbergers are related to "Golden Sunset".

Jenny Kennish was so very kind to give me Mr. Gower's present address. He is now a gentleman in the 90ties and shares his live with cats.

I wrote him a letter to "thank him on behalf of the Leonberger dogs and their owners" - and Jenny Kennish is visiting him regularely with her Leos.

This pic shows Mr. Gower & Jenny Kennish' Leos !