WE FOUND MAXI IN A PET STORE IN KNOXVILLE, TN. SHE WAS IN A CAGE THAT WAS MUCH TOO SMALL FOR HER. IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT, AND WE TOOK HER HOME. SHE WAS SO GENTLE AND KIND. SHE WAS MY SECOND CHOW AND I LEARNED TO LOVE THE BREED, HOWEVER, MAXI WAS DIFFERENT. SHE LOVED TO SPEND TIME WITH THE PEOPLE SHE LOVED...THEN A DIVORCE HAPPENED AND I HAD TO FIND A HOME FOR MY FUR BABIES. MAXI WENT TO LIVE WITH MY AUNT AND HER HUSBAND. THERE SHE FOUND A HOME DIFFERENT FROM WHERE SHE HAD GOTTEN ACCUSTOMED TO, BUT SHE ADAPTED QUICKLY, AND LEARNED TO LOVE HER NEW OWNERS. SHE RAN IN THE LARGE FENCED YARD AND CHASED ALL THE LITTLE RABBITS OUT OF HER TERRITORY. WHEN I WOULD VISIT, SHE WOULD ALWAYS GREET ME WITH A KISS. SHE WOULD NEVER KISS ANY ONE ELSE. WHAT A GIRL. SHE ADORED THE YARD AT MY AUNTS HOME AND KEPT A VIGIL OVER IT FOR ALL HER YOUNG LIFE......SHE RESCUED MY AUNT WHEN THE HOUSE CAUGHT FIRE. MAXI RISKED LOOSING HER OWN LIFE TO SAVE THE LIFE OF MY AUNT.THEN IN SEPTEMBER,2003 MAXI WAS DIAGNOISED WITH COLAN CANCER. SHE WAS SO ILL. MY AUNT DID ALL THAT SHE COULD DO TO MAKE HER COMFORTABLE, AND FEED HER ALL THE RIGHT FOODS THAT THE VET RECOMMENDED. MY AUNT DECIDED TO VISIT THE HUMAN SHELTER TO FIND ANOTHER DOG. THERE SHE FOUND AN AKITA WE CALLED TIKI.THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING MY AUNT WAS IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE DOGS HAD TO BE PLACED IN BOARDING. WHILE THERE,UNSUPERVISED, TIKI TOOK ADVANTAGE OF AN ALREADY SICK,WEAK MAXI AND DESTROYED HER FACE AND SIDE. MAXI HAD TO BE PUT TO SLEEP. SHE WAS EVEN IN HER LAST MOMENTS THE WONDERFUL DOG THAT WE KNEW HER TO BE. SHE WAGGED HER TAIL JUST BEFORE SHE CLOSED HER EYES TO WAKE UP AT RAINBOW BRIDGE. MAXI, I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU.YOUR GENTLENESS,KINDNESS,LOVINGNESS AND OF COURSE YOUR BEAUTY.I LOVED YOU THEN,AND I LOVE YOU NOW. YOU OF COURSE ARE AT RAINBOW BRIDGE,BUT I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT YOUR REMAINS ARE RIGHT THERE IN THE YARD WHERE YOU LOVED TO LAY.AT YOUR HEAD AND AT YOUR FEET ARE THE GUARDIAN ANGELS WATCHING OVER YOU DAY AND NIGHT.THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS FROM OUR FAMILY THAT WILL SOON BE CROSSING RAINBOW BRIDGE.PLEASE SHOW THEM THE WAY.LOOK FOR SAM AND CHECKERS, THEY FOLLOWED AFTER YOU. I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU MY SWEET SWEET GIRL