I read about this article from an old National Geographic magazine. It was only 2 pages but the story of this incredible journey has since made a huge impact on me. I wanted to write about this on my blog but i was hesitated. I got in touch with Ed Mulrenin, the guy in the photo. I was hoping for some comments and personal photos from him, but i am not getting any reply ever since i made that request. I guess he could be busy. Maybe there have been too many people asking the same question and he is getting pretty tired of it.
This story is about a man and a German shepherd, called Sonntag. In 1998, Sonntag injured his spinal cord while chasing a ball. Ed Mulrenin promised to Sonntag that he would not put him down simply because he was a paraplegic.
"I stuck by him as he would have me," says Mulrenin.
Many effort were tried just to get Sonntag walking again. Ed has to massage Sonntag's bladder so the dog could urinate. He got Sonntag a canine wheelchair and equipped their lives so that paralysis did not keep Sonntag from doing anything.
This story is about a man and a German shepherd, called Sonntag. In 1998, Sonntag injured his spinal cord while chasing a ball. Ed Mulrenin promised to Sonntag that he would not put him down simply because he was a paraplegic.
"I stuck by him as he would have me," says Mulrenin.
Many effort were tried just to get Sonntag walking again. Ed has to massage Sonntag's bladder so the dog could urinate. He got Sonntag a canine wheelchair and equipped their lives so that paralysis did not keep Sonntag from doing anything.
In August 2000, he replaced his Land Rover's front passenger seat with a custom built bed and took Sonntag on a 42 day, 12,500 miles trip to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. The photo above shows that Ed was guiding Sonntag to walk in the snowy weather. And at the photo below, Ed and Sonntag stopped for a walk along the way.
Upon their return, Sonntag's health was failing. Sonntag was having serious arthritis problem and he could barely get up. Mulrenin decided to end Sonntag's life. He was grieving, but he was satisfied that he had not deprived the dog of a moment of pleasure.
"I made it to the finish line. I kept my promise."
"I made it to the finish line. I kept my promise."
Sonntag was euthanized on April 10, 2001. And Mulrenin vowed to Sonntag that someday he will return to Alaska to spread his ashes over the Artic Tundra to connect him forever with that incredible journey.
I couldn't pull my eyes away from the photo above when i was reading that article on the magazine. It was the moment when vet's injection took hold, and he whispered in Sonntag's ear : "We made it, buddy, we made it."
I couldn't pull my eyes away from the photo above when i was reading that article on the magazine. It was the moment when vet's injection took hold, and he whispered in Sonntag's ear : "We made it, buddy, we made it."
I was trying to feel Mulrenin's pain at that very moment. The photo shows the close connection between Mulrenin and Sonntag, man and his beloved dog. It must have felt like a dear member in the family has left.
I could recall the day when my dog left. He passed out a huge sigh, looking at me. That moment, stays strongly in my memory even after 20 years. Only those of us who has or had a dog understands that bond. Dog is not a pet. Dog could be a friend, a buddy, once you are able to connect with it.
Here is the last web update on April 10, 2001, from Ed Mulrenin about Sonntag :
http://www.dwdconsult.com/TJWebsite/Sonntag/New_E-Mail/new_e-mail.htm
aiyo so touching.
ReplyDeletelosing a dog is like losing a person.
Indeed. Think twice before deciding on having a dog at home.
ReplyDeleteTalk-A-Lot Auntie comments: Inspiring yes, touching yes but living life to the fullest and I mean this even from the dog's point of view, not really. One thing stands out very much in my head after reading your posting on this article is how death is inescapable in this journey of life. To be fair, I have a couple of questions. One, what are the questions that you asked of Ed Mulrenin and yet to get a reply and as for the story, it wasn't in detail. I need to know more like why did he take the dog to Alaska, why Alaska? Loosely, are you relating personally to the story? Once I start, I have many burning questions. You know me, right??
ReplyDeleteTalk-A-Lot Auntie comments: This is regarding the first article about the man in china who has to live with the misfortune of his physical disablement. Now what I found in that story is hope. Hope as it is found in mankind who has a choice in the way he lives his life inspite of much challenges and difficulties. Which brings me to a noteworthy line I read sometime ago........Try not to complain about Growing Old because it is a privilege not many gets to enjoy!
ReplyDeleteHi Alex,
ReplyDeleteI came across this site tonight and thought I'd respond here.
Sorry I still have not responded to your Facebook request, but, you're right, I have been extremely busy, but more importantly, all my photos of Sonntag and Kessie are in my old (dial-up) computer and I have been unable to get them transferred over yet. But I will, and I will make sure they are posted here or on my Facebook page for you.
Let me answer to the question someone asked on your site, Why did I take Sonntag to Alaska?
As a kid, I dreamed about learning Russian someday and doing something worthwhile with the Russians. In the early 1990s, I decided I had to start toward that goal sometime, so I started to study Russian in my spare time, and spent about 40 hours a week doing it. My goal was to be fluent in Russian by the year 2000, and then look for a job there. Unfortunately, my plans were put on hold in 1998 when Sonntag became paralyzed at 10 1/2 years old. Managing him as a paralyzed dog took at least 5 hours a day, often 8 hours if I drove the 100-mile round trip to a pool for horses that the owner let me use for Sonntag for therapy. Eventually, though, I got back to studying Russian and managing Sonntag as well. (I also had Sonntag’s sister, Kessie, as one of your photos shows.)
Out of the clear blue, I got a call from the Russians in late 1999. They needed someone to coordinate banking reform for them, someone who understood the central banking function as I did, but also someone who spoke Russian. I was uniquely qualified for the job, they said. So I took the job in April 2000. When it came time to move to Moscow, while I first I thought I could take Sonntag with me (his sister died in 1999), I then decided that it would be took much for him and me. Besides, I said, I had already given him more than three years as a paralyzed dog, far more than most people would have. Since he was 13, I suspected he would not live much longer anyway, so I decided to take him for one last road trip --- road trips were his favorite treats --- and then let him go, i.e., put him down. I figured he would have in a couple of weeks more fun than he would have over the next year in Russia. At first I decided to take him for two weeks up to a place in Canada we used to go skiing together (see photo of Sonntag with his skis), but then decided to take the longest road trip possible in North America, to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, 12,500 miles round trip. This would be ultimate trip for any dog!
The trip lasted 42 days. We camped out every single night, Sonntag sleeping right next to me in the tent every night. Although we had been together for 13 years already by the time of that trip, we bonded during those 42 days in a way I did not think possible. When I got back home in September, and it came time for me to move to Russia without Sonntag, I decided that my highest priority was my dog, not my career, so I abandoned the job in Russia to stay with Sonntag his last seven months. He would have done the same for me, I reasoned.
By the way, Sonntag was put down seven months after that trip ended, on April 10, 2001, after arthritis took over his front legs. On August 20th of that year, I drove back up to the very spot in Alaska where the photo was taken with me and Sonntag going into the tent in a snowstorm (139 miles south of Prudhoe Bay, 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle). It was there that I scattered Sonntag’s ashes and those of his sister Kessie with their 16-week old successors, Leben and Erde, standing guard.
I will also post here an article soon an article I wrote the day Sonntag died about him that was published in the Washington Post.
Thanks for your posting about Sonntag. He was a good dog, as all dogs are.
Ed Mulrenin
edmulrenin@gmail.com
I, too, will always remember that story. Just a few years ago, Duke entered my life. A "deformed" German Shepherd that was my soul mate. Miss him to this very moment.
ReplyDeleteTakes a lot to reach a cynical ER nurse. Never forgot seeing your story in National Geo (though for the life of me couldn't remember where i'd seen it). Makes life worth a damn.
A powerful story of love, compassion and companionship.....what is to question? As an animal rescuer and advocate...I see the worst side of some humans horrific treatment of animals.
ReplyDeleteMy son found the Natl Geographic mag in his room...and brought it to me. I leafed through it and found this story. I then proceeded to google so I could share with my animal rescue friends on facebook. And here I am. THANK YOU FOR POSTING.