Nvwati was born on April 1, 1997, the second of five pups born to Miko, a timber wolf. Miko came into my life two years earlier, gifted to me in the Will of an elderly woman who passed away. I am American Indian and belong to the wolf clan. This grandmother knew of my love for wolves, so when she passed away she left Miko to me. I had no idea Miko was capable of having pups! I thought by that age she would have either been spayed or sterile. Miko met Timber, a black and white Siberian Husky and they fell in love. They would both cry for hours after their play dates together. I had to be out of town for a week and Miko went to spend that time with Timber and his human mom. When I returned home I was told they had mated. Sixty three days to the day, five pups were born.Nvwati was the largest, and the second one to make his appearance. He was born butt first and I had to help him come out. Two weeks later I was awakened one night to the sound of howling. Imagine my surprise when I went into the Solarium and found Miko howling at the full moon with little Nvwati sitting beside her, his little head up high howling along! As people came to decide which pup they wanted I would all but push Nvwati into their hands but each time they would say "No". Being a blonde he didnt look as "wolfie" as the other pups did and so before long I was left with only two needing a home, Nvwati and his brother.After his mother Miko died suddenly, he wiggled his way into my heart and remained with me, my constant companion. Nvwati loved to sing and would sing along with me whenever I took up my drum. He competed in and came in second in an International Pet Singing Competition. He was on several tv shows including Breakfast Television, Oprah Show, Erin Davis show, etc. Nvwati can be seen singing on his dogster site at www.dogster.com/dogs/83943. Over the next 10.5 years Nvwati brought me so many wonderful memories. Whether it was of him singing as I drummed, or the countless times his attitude would come through, he always brought me joy. He lived up to his name which is a Cherokee word for "Good Medicine". During times I was so ill I didnt know if I could go on any more he would be there for me , loving me and showing me that I had better not leave him! Nvwati was so very gentle to all he met, but especially loving to homeless people. Its as though he seemed to sense they needed a little extra loving. Time after time I told him how he better not die before me because I couldnt bear the loss. I told him this just the night before he passed away. On Friday, Sept. 28, 2007 while out for our afternoon trip to the park, I noticed he was walking slowly. Jokingly I said, "Hey bubbs, you re slow today. Whats wrong? Are you an old man now?" Upon our return from the park he lay down at the doorway to my bedroom and let out a yelp. It was by far not the worst yelp I had heard from him over the years but his beautiful eyes told me soemthing was terribly wrong. I helped him to my bed and called the Animal Hospital. I was told to bring him right over. Thinking it must have been something he ate, I put him on leash and began the 3 block scoot to the Animal hospital. Two blocks from home, my darling wobbled then sat down. He put his head down and died right there on the sidewalk, one block from our destination. His autopsy showed he had Pericarditis, a large bag of fluid around his precious heart making it hard for it to beat. He died of a massive heart attack. It feels as though my heart will explode from grief. As I left the Animal Hospital, I sat outside on my scooter (wheelchair type thing) and looked up at the sky. On the one side of the street where I was, the sky was blue and sunny. Directly across the street the sky was black and it was raining. It was as though the heavens had opened to welcome my beloved Nvwati home. Wherever Nvwati went, he turned heads first from his beauty, and then for his personality. Even those who were terrified of big dogs ( anything bigger than a tea cup poodle) loved him. He seemed to have a special place in his sweet heart for those less fortunate I E Homeless folk, he travelled North America singing! He sang all the Native songs his mom sang, he and Mkwaa who shared the same birthday sang Happy Birthday (twice on their birthday) and on Christmas morning his mom made him wear reindeer antlers ( HE HATED IT! but wore them for a few minutes because it made his Mommy happy and he soooooooooooooo loved to please her) and he sang "Gramma Got Runover by A Reindeer!"