Hatchi and 49 other Kuvasz: THE Kuvasz rescue story
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This story is about a real life hero-in my eyes. A story about a man, who unselfishly dedicated his life to the Kuvasz breed.
Steve Kovacs' grandfather emigrated from Hungary to the US. His mother is French/Armenian. Although he has never been to Hungary, through the Kuvasz, his soul is connected to the homeland. His dream is to visit breeders in Hungary. I do wish for his dream to come true.
You can read about the rescue of 49 Kuvasz and Steve's role in it in a later post. Just as a word of warning, get ready for your eyes to water up.
In 2006, Steve was instrumental in saving these dogs from the Karpati Farm, located in the the state of New York. The farm belonged to long time Kuvasz breeder, Paul Kornicky.
For now, please welcome the story of Hatchi and Steve. Written by Steve.
"Where to start. Hachi came to me as a rescue. The family that had gotten him from a breeder I knew well had not socialized him and he had become too aggressive. Intensely aggressive. When I went to see him at their place he spent 45 minutes threatening to eat me in different ways through the fence of his pen. But when one of his girls came out of the house behind me, His eyes immediately tracked her. I knew that he was not insanely aggressive he had purpose. They couldn’t place him in a home and were going to put him to sleep. I took him on the farm with me.
For the first week or so he wanted nothing to do with me or people. Other than to threaten them. But we would give him food, and water, and he watched as other dogs walked by his pen. Were treated well. One day I went into give him his food and he started towards me growling. I said “No, Stop” The first time I’d done that with him. And he did!! I stood up and let my hand hang down and talked to him. He slowly came over to me and sniffed my hand. I scratched the side of his head. From there we went on to going for walks around the farm. Travis (another heart dog and from the big rescue) who was living inside with me passed away. I brought Hachi inside with me. He had a small paddock to tear around in and would stay with me at night and during dismal days.
I had to leave the farm and of course he came with me. Staying for ten days or so in a hotel. So from on a farm to a hotel with huge grounds. We would go for long walks.He was happy and just fine. We stayed in various places while I worked on our project. A large house. A long stay place with a kitchen. He would go for walks with me. Always adapting, always by my side no matter what the situation. We were outside walking one time when about six guys who had been drinking (celebrating cinqo de mayo) came up. They asked if he would bite I said yes if he needs to and walked him in a different direction from them. Well one of the guys followed and tried to catch up, unseen by me. Hachi saw him. And went ballistic at him. The man turned white and backed away.
Fast forward I had just taken him for a walk and put him into the suburban. I collapsed from an embolism. He barked so loudly and urgently that people looked and saw me on the ground. The police came and did CPR. EMTs came and did more. My heart had stopped. I ended up spending 12 days in a coma. Minutes made the difference between life and death for me. They didn’t even think I would make it until the next morning to start. He saved my life. The first thing I remember on being woken up by my partner was “Hachi is ok he is safe”
I spent three months in recovery. Then went to a different long stay hotel with suites near my friends and partners. Hatchi came back to me. I was in a wheel chair, it was as if I had never left. And the wheelchair had always been there. He just adapted immediately and perfectly to the environment. He would poke me to go to sleep when I stayed up too late . He would get up on the bed and lay by me when I slept. He would shove my wheelchair away form the bed so I had to walk to get to it. He would play with a ball with me. He would walk beside me when i practiced with a walker.
I save his life. He saved mine. He went from farm to full companion/protector and then even caretaker. He was a Kuvasz. "
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