Agatha of Matrix Entlebucher

My name is Agatha of Matrix Entlebucher and I was born September 23rd, 2006 with three brothers, Atlas, Ajax (in doggy heaven) and Astro (Cubby). My call name is Heidi. Who would get a real Doggy Shower with lots of presents?? Well I did. So I must have been very special and my future family was really very excited to welcome me to their home. Early on at 8 weeks we found out that there was something wrong because I peed a lot even abnormal for a puppy. I got diagnosed with EUS at 4 month after doing an ultra sound and only antibiotics would keep my urinary tract infections away. My mom flew with me to Michigan at age of 6 month to be part of a research program and I underwent an entire week a whole bunch of different tests and the result was that I also was born with 2 abnormal kidneys only functioning at 50%. Prognoses for life expectants was not so long but they put me on special K/D food and medication which I have been on my entire life. Drinking a lot of water and also peeing frequently during the day helped my kidneys to flush better. My mom teached me those commands, drink and go potty. Some might thought it was a silly thing to do and a dog should know when to pee but I got accustomed to it till the very end. When I was 9 month old, Moses of Surfside aka Willi entered my life. At the very first moment when we picked up Willi at Nancy Farnsworth, the breeders house where I came from, I did not look at my family for the entire 2 hours drive home. Thought, what the heck is he doing in my moms lap. When we came home I ignored Willi for several hours although he tried to play with me. My behavor only lasted over night and the next morning I could not withstand the charm of this little puppy boy. The rest is history and he became my playmate, doggy soulmate and was always at my side. I lived a full exciting life at first in Rancho Mirage, California with regular daily exercise, going on lots of hikes or driving down to Newport Beach and going to the dog beach in Huntington beach sometimes meeting up with other Entle friends. Made many road trips with my family to different Entlefest or visiting other Entle family and friends and I would never sleep in the car no matter what and how long it took. Always watching out the window even at night. I was also a silly girl from time to time going through the trash when home alone with Willi, sleeping on the couch although not allowed and caught on camera. But one story will not be forgotten and I have to tell it to the world. While staying at the home of Willis sister Madison and her family Merryl and Cliff for 2 weeks, I developed a special bond with Cliff who was working at home and I followed him around (was also a dadys girl at home...:). One day we were all outside playing with the ball. Madison and Willi going crazy about it and suddenly I couldnt see Cliff anymore. Went for a search through the entire yard but he was not in sight. I had to find him! Since I was very agile and could jump very high in my younger years, I thought I had to look in the front yard of the house if he is there. The garden table seems a good start to jump on and I managed from there to jump on the divider wall to the neighboring home. Thought this is really cool and I can see better so I took a leap on top of the roof of the house and walked to the front part. Saw some people mowing the grass next door. Oh well, lets go and have a look so I jumped off the roof into the front lawn and thank god didnt hurt myself. Oh was I a happy camper when Cliff came storming out the front door and I saw him. Neighbor called him to tell him that one of his guest dogs is on the roof. He was scared to death but all was good. Next day I thought this was kind of fun to watch down from the roof and jumped up again. This time Cliff saw me do it and got me off the roof. They had to move the table away from the wall and I stayed safely on the ground. There are so many more great moments also with my Entle friend Greta when we stayed at her house for 2 month before moving to South America. Greta was so excited to have us around and play ball and her mom Ann and all of us went on an amazing last goodbye road trip in Anns VW Volkswagen Bus to Northern California meeting so many great Entle friends and my brother Cubby. What a riot we had during that time. There are so many more great moments and I cant tell them all.

One could not tell something was wrong with me but I developed some fears when I was in crowded parks or busy streets and I didnt like moving objects either probably coming from the medication I was on and my condition - who knows. So my family started to keep me away from the bustle and when we moved to Uruguay in 2012 I had a large backyard in the countryside to play and run and going for long walks and I was very relaxed there to live till the very end. We also would go a lot to the beach and walk for hours me playing with a ball or empty plastic bottle I would find and Willi my best friend always along my side. Loved the beach so much and I had a lot of freedom. Unfortunately, in August 2016 suddenly my kidney disease reached stage 4 and I started to loose a lot of weight, had no appetite, got Anemia and some other unpleasant issues. We thought the end was already near but I re-bounded somewhat to celebrate my 10th Birthday in September and was able to carry on without pain but getting weaker and weaker and loosing more weight (used to be consistently 44-45lbs and at the end only about 26lbs) till my family had to make the dreadful decision to let me go to doggy heaven. I could not have wished for a better doggy life and at this point I would like to express a very special Thank You to the following people who made it possible for me to live such a full and rich life for so long.

Special Thank you goes to:

My Breeder Nancy Farnsworth who deeply cared about my situation until her life ended so abruptly and way too early

My Family and Willi my best friend, companion and playmate for 10 years

All my Entle family, friends and family all over the world who kept in touch all these years and showed interest in my life

Silvia Rosa our dog sitter in Uruguay for the last 4 1/2 years who loved me and Willi like her own

NEMDA for their continues support for the Entle breed

Janis Miller who made it possible to become part of the MSU Research Program for EUS

Dr. Courtney North who took Heidi under her wing for an entire week at MSU

Dr. John Krueger, Head of the Research Program who till up to date guided me through my life

My Vet in California Dr. Lillian Roberts and now

My Vet in Uruguay Dr. Adriana Barcia who had to make the final injection to send me to doggy heaven where I can rest now in peace.

We will miss you so much and our hearts are aching and the loss is huge but you always will have a very special place in our hearts.

Your family - Bettina, Ralph & Willi and the 4 Cats (Lizzy, Lilly, Lindi and Luis)