Manchester of Nordic Mists Kennels came to us at 5 months old trailing a roll of toilet paper. Little did we know when we left the kennel with the little whirlwind he would create the adventures from which great stories are told. Manny as we all called him was a Newfoundland dog with the sweetest and wisest ways. He was our hero reaching many hearts even those of harden to man’s canine friends.
Tragedy struck a family far from their native home. A manager’s son was suddenly killed in a car accident. After the funeral, the manager became restless, unable to sleep at night and unable to be comforted by the caring people surrounding him. Mourning the loss of his son drove him to distraction. So we asked the manager and his wife to come with us to Leavenworth, Washington. This would require them to spend the night with us, travel with us and walk with us in the beautiful scenery of the Cascade Mountains. Of course, it also met they would be spending the weekend with our Manny as we never went anywhere without him. The manager’s wife confided in me that she wished we wouldn’t take the dog because the manager doesn’t like dogs and is likely to complain unbearably. We explained we could not leave Manny home for so long an adventure and that he really was no trouble, they would hardly know he was there. True to form, Manny climbed into his car bed, rode in silence the 200 miles to Leavenworth and behaved like a perfect gentleman whenever we got him out of the car to stretch his legs. As we all walked through the quaint little town, Manny, the Babe Catcher, was working his magic sparking conversations with all the passing young ladies. What kind of dog is he? How old? How much does he weigh? How much does he eat? Can I have picture with him? By the mid-day, the manager was answering the questions and was quite indignant if Manny was mistaken for a Saint Bernard. By the end of the weekend, the manager told us Manny was very special and while he doesn’t like dogs generally, he would take Manny home any day. He also told us, while he stroked Manny’s thick mane, it was the first time he slept all night and without nightmares in 6 months. Yes, Manny had that effect on people. Their cares just melted away in his presence.
Food Glorious Food – Manny’s motto - Our sweet boy just lived for Thanksgiving and all the fixins. We never gave him turkey because it is just too rich for dogs but he did have his feasts and maybe a little too often. Thanks to a little help from his friends at Desert Veterinary Clinic, Manny was the only one in our house successful on a diet and able to keep the weight off. Now, Manny had a crooked back leg that made it difficult for him to walk long distances. We had special shoes made for him and he wore them out getting to and maintaining that perfect weight. But I recall the day when 10 year old girl noticed Manny’s shoes and crooked leg. She, of course, made curious inquiries. In response to one of her questions I told her that some people think because he has a crooked leg that he isn’t perfect and not worth anything but we know differently and love him very much. With that, tears weld up in her eyes and she turned to her father exclaiming, “Daddy, he’s just like me – I love him!” It was then I noticed she too had a clubbed foot and wore special shoes. Of course, there were huge newfie hugs and kisses to follow and an invitation to come anytime and visit. Times like these just warm the heart.
Yes, from the very beginning Manchester was special in so very many ways.
Once when climbing on the cliffs of the Oregon Coast, the trail narrowed to a single footpath on the very edge of a precipice with only thick prickly bushes to the right. Manny in the lead on the trail suddenly stopped. No amount of coaxing, commanding or even gentle pushing from behind would make him go forward. In fact, Manny was nudging us backward by leaning his haunches into our knees. Deciding it was no use trying to go forward, we all backed up carefully to knoll where we could turn around and merrily go back down from where we came. Instead of going over the cliff, we decided we would walk the beach around it. About half way around, Manny stopped and looked up. Like the tourists we were we looked up too. There at the top of the 1000 foot cliff was the foot path we were just hiking – to our amazement was the view of what was under the footpath – Absolutely Nothing! The path was over grown with thick grass whose roots created a sort of mat but the soil that used to support the mat had fallen away to the beach below. Had we walked over the footpath all of us would have fallen to our death. That day Manny was our hero - preventing us from taking actions that would have resulted in certain death.
Manny loved his picture taken. He posed as the Great Pumpkin, the farmer, the patriot, the Scottish Kinsmen, the pirate, the beautiful and the Sleepy from Snow White. He created loving memories for all who posed with him and snapped him with the cell phone cameras. We know his picture was sent all over the United States and to Japan, England, France and Belgium over the web just because the photographer wanted a friend or love one to see his great size and stature. Manny also posed many times in the Columbia River Newfoundland Club’s keel boat float as we portrayed the Lewis & Clarke expedition. The float took first place in the Loyalty Day Parade, in Long Beach, Washington and the Starlight Parade, in Portland, Oregon. It must have been Newfoundland dogs that captured the heart of the judges. Just one look is all it took - Yes, everybody loved us wherever we went.
Holloween will be sad this year for many Trick or Treaters. It will be the first time that Manny does not greet them at the door in his costume. He portrayed the Great Pumpkin for many years. Early-on he marched in the neighborhood Holloween parade just behind the police car or fire truck. As we do, the neighborhood children will miss the kisses and hugs so freely given without inhibitions. And while his crooked leg held him back in life, in spirit he is free to gallop with wind blowing through his hair. We know the warmth we feel in the desert air is our Manny running freely, gracefully, in joy knowing he left pawprints on many hearts but especially our own. We only need to search inside and find our memories to know we will never really part. So we rejoice and sing you are no longer encumbered with crooked limbs - fly Manny fly for angel wings are beneath your feet.

Luis W.