"Here is one puppy booked for you", was the simple sentence in an email written by the world-renowned, Pirjo Grönfors, in an email she wrote to us in November 1998. That was a lo-o-ong time ago, but we still clearly remember the excitement and bright hopes for the future we had for our very first imported Saluki.
Valkyrie was every bit as beautiful as we expected and she brought with her some of the most important lines in the world of Salukis - lines that earned her a strong position as one of our foundation dams.
Valkyrie excelled in the ring, winning several Puppy Groups and earning her championship quite quickly, but showing wasn't her favourite activity. Instead, she proved herself as a supreme mother - giving us our first black grizzles, our first creams, and our first parti-colours (the first in South Africa in many, many years). Valkyrie adored babies - her own, in particular, but also every other baby that has been born or come into our home.
Valkyrie was a blessing for us for two weeks short of 16 years, at which time it was necessary to pin on her wings and prepare for the Rainbow Bridge, where she'll be met by a few of her children, no doubt.
Amongst the incredible legacy Valkyrie has left us through her three litters, are (and were) her beloved children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren at home and in the rings around the world, a few of which include:
Champions from the Winds of the World litter (2001)
Ch. Fleetwind Ride the Chinuk
Ch. Fleetwind Skim the Solano (Strathdee & Spence - Australia)
Photo: SHOWDOGS Images 