1974 Dawn, Gabby, and Annie

Dawn was a leach.  She would latch onto you and you couldn't get rid of her.  She was constantly being evicted, with one hard luck story after another.  She had a young son, maybe 6 or 7 years old, and four Afghans.  One of them was a little black female named Gabby (Gabriella of Grandeur).  She also had Gabby's two sons, a big red brindle named Montrose Smackwater Jack and a bigger black male named Montrose California Soul, as well as Gabby's beautiful cream domino daughter, Sally (Montrose Azul Dominga.)  Gabby lived with us for a couple of months when Dawn was between living arrangements.

Ch. Montrose California Soul "Jules"

Gabby was wonderful.  I would have kept her forever.  She fit right in.  I think she is the reason I have always had a special place in my heart for little black Afghan bitches.  She is also probably the reason that I got my Hermit daughter, Alabama, who was also a little black bitch, from Jeanette in California.

Gabriella of Grandeur "Gabby"

Strange Twist of Fate
Many years later when we lived in Denver, I was offered a black and tan Champion Afghan Hound bitch by my friends at Shylo.  That was Her name was Ch. Shylo Ceylon, "Annie" and I was thrilled to have her.  One day when I was at Shylo, I asked about her pedigree.  Bruce told me her mother was their beloved, "Puff", Linmara Lucinda of Shylo.  I mentioned that I had known someone in New Jersey whose kennel name was Linmara and sure enough, it was her.  And Puff's mother was a bitch named Montrose Azul Dominga, whose mother was Gabriella of Grandeur, Gabby!  I had Gabby's great-granddaughter and didn't even know it!