It was a delightful visit when Sigrid Griswold came to pick out a grey and white male puppy, and went home with a black and white female for her husband's approval. I have received many telephone calls and notes from Sigrid telling how Kaiote has improved the quality of their lives.
Following are two letters -- one written in 1997 and one written in 1998.

KAIOTE, THE BAND-AID FOR MY SOUL.

As much as we love animals, having a dog was the furthest thing on my mind and out of the question for my husband. He does like dogs, but only recognized the wolf and coyote as true dogs. But the shepherd, Husky and other working dogs are worthy domesticated dogs in his opinion.

My husband has had MS for 21 years and a Shepherd or a Husky would simply mow him down. His balance is so fragile and his hearing is also terribly impaired. I have had two cancer operations 13 years ago and suffered from reoccurring, very painful, spasm attacks ever since. Military Doctors, as
well as Civilian Specialists could not help me.

My husband is not a happy camper with his illness and my situation had become hopeless also. Ours was a lonely household and hardly a home for adopting a new member into this family, but when I saw my first Alaskan Klee Kai peaking out of a parked car window, with people remarking "how cute", as they passed by, I took one look and stopped dead in my tacks. Here was a solution for a pet companion for us to watch and love: small, but with the big dog look.

The kind owner of the dog gave me some information about the breed and where to see or purchase one. Luckily (fate?) a kennel is right here in Colorado. Arriving home, I described the looks and size of an Alaskan Klee Kai to my husband and wonder of wonders, he agreed for me to get one, -- no
argument, not even any persuasion necessary. My daughter and her boyfriend came along for my appointment to get "acquainted" with the Alaskan Klee Kai.

Eileen Gregory, the owner of the kennel, welcomed us, but all we saw were Alaskan Klee Kai and more Alaskan Klee Kai everywhere. We were totally overwhelmed and smitten by these lively, beautiful creatures. To me, they still look and act like little gnomes, or leprechauns, -- irresistible, unpredictable, but always charming pixies out of a Fairy Tale Wood.

My husband wanted only a male, and I liked the grey color better, I thought it classier looking. But the only pup available was a black and white very shy little female. Now my daughter and Tim went to work on us. My daughter called her father for an OK on a female, while Tim convinced me that this little black and white pup had the best mask of all the pups there. Robin and Tim simply would not let me leave without a dog, so the black and white female pup went home with us.

For the first few weeks, I had my doubts and even tears that I had taken on too much, one more reason to make my husband feel angry at himself and the world for being so slow and awkward. I am sure watching Kaiote race around the house, getting in his way, leaving, bones and worse things on the floor also made my husband more aware of his limitations. Somehow we adjusted and when we watched Kaiote playing outside, I heard my husband laughing every once in a while. Kaiote had won him over too.

Now, one year later, our Kaiote has changed our home into a lively, though sometimes hectic home. I have this unconditionally loving, happy little critter following me around all day, or laying in her "penthouse", a wide upholstered shelf on our picture window. This was truly my husband's slow
and painful labor of love for Kaiote.

When I get a bit down, there she is, on look, a hug, a little talk or a walk and I cheer up. I am so very grateful for her company and also the conversations we have, at the very least Kaiote DOES hear me.

What none of the Doctors could do in 13 years, help me over my painful spasms, Kaiote has done in one year by just being her happy, loving and enchanting self.

She is truly the "Band-Aid for my soul", (Czech proverb), my little one, my Alaskan Klee Kai, my Kaiote.

Greg and I will always prize this friendship that came through the wiggles of our little Alaskan Klee Kai.

The 20th of April was an important date, when I was a schoolgirl in Germany. It was the birthday of Adolf Hitler and of course was celebrated in schools with assemblies, speeches and songs.
58 years later (flashback) the 20th of April has become a memorable date again, this time a much happier one.

Our life changed profoundly when Kaiote (Kaijodi), our Alaskan Klee Kai, entered our home on April 20th, 1996. There were no speeches, no songs, but yes, there was an assembly. All of our children and grandchildren managed to visit --- Kaiote!

I felt so lucky, almost like it was meant to be, when I saw my first Alaskan Klee Kai, (the small but macho "dog-like" looking dog, as my husband would put it), and found out they were available here in Peyton, Colorado at the Klee Kai Kennelette owned by Greg and Eileen Gregory. After an appointment and a lively discussion on the telephone with Eileen about this newly developed breed, my daughter, her boyfriend and myself made the trip to Peyton. My husband who has MS cannot travel very long in the car and could not be with us.

We arrived at the Gregory's home and kennel, but our knocking was not heard, so off we went to have lunch in "town", and experience in itself. Back at the Gregory's we finally opened the screen door on our own, and were heard and welcomed by Eileen and at least a dozen Klee Kai babies.
For us, seeing these cute pups playfully scurrying around was literally overwhelming. Eileen's lively charges are not locked away, they were running around the kitchen, dining room and living room. As soon as we were settled, one of these charmers was on each of our laps throughout our negotiation. From the start we felt such love and enthusiasm for these dogs in Eileen, and anyone who knows her, also knows she will share this feeling for her tribe with you.

We were instructed what commitments a buyer has to make, even sign a contract. A contract for a Dog??? But ignorant as we were, Eileen explained to us how important and difficult it is to bring out the best in a new breed.

Since we just wanted a pet for my husband and myself and not a show or breeding animal, we qualified for a very shy little two and a half month old female. We did not have to go on the waiting list and brought our Kaiote home the same day. Was I lucky or what!

Thereafter life has never been the same. We have had two dogs before, but with four children in the house, who walked and played with the dogs, I had little to do but feed our pets and they seemed perfectly happy. Today, we are an elderly (old) couple alone. My husband lost his hearing and is
partially housebound with the MS, so Kaiote is my responsibility, my companion, my toy and the love of my life.

My gratitude to Linda Spurlin for "shrinking" the Husky is always with me. Her tireless effort to develop a clean new breed in the Alaskan Klee Kai and now the continued devotion to the same goal by Eileen and Greg Gregory is deserving of a big thank you from all of us Alaskan Klee Kai parents.

I am enclosing a Thank You card with this letter. Maybe we can all show our appreciation in this way for having our loving and so special companions.

Accompanying the following letter, written March 1998, was a very nice card which said:

"Thank you" means that someone shared,
someone showed how much they cared ---
it means that someone had a part
in bringing joy to another's heart.
Thank You for being that someone."
and it was signed "Meant from the bottom of my heart. Love and Blessings, Sigrid."