When we went to get a dog at Belgrade Dog Show, we didn't even dream |
it was going to be an Irish setter. We knew we wanted a dog and that we |
would like some hunting breed but we didn't know exactly which one and |
it was not very important to us either. We could choose from litters of |
golden retrievers, fox terriers, cocker spaniels and dalmatians, but we |
chose an Irish setter puppy. They were completely irresistible - three males |
and two females. We didn't think much - it was simply love at first sight. |
Actually, we didn't choose him, he chose us - a sticky tongue across our |
faces was all it took. Our friend Jelena suggested on the way home to call |
him Api (short for Apolon /Apollo in Serbian/, which was his name in the |
pedigree. And so little Api walked into our home and into our lives. |
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Independent and free-spirited, intelligent and obedient, Api was a dog |
that could anybody's heart. All our relatives, friends and neighbors adored |
him. His good looks and mischievous look on his face drew everybody's |
attention. Random people in the street often used to ask us if they could |
take a picture with Api. He was even photographed with one of TV |
reporters and had his picture printed in the newspaper. |
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There was never a dull moment with Api. He was always playful and ready |
for a mischief and he made the moments we spent with him an indelible |
part of our memories. Who could possibly forget him jumping out of a |
car window or trying to chase after a bear, which we fortunately prevented |
just in time, a thrilled look on his face while he was running with a dead |
pigeon hanging out of his mouth while other dogs were unsuccessfully |
trying to catch up with him... Still, he did everything with lots of charm and |
style and there was not a single soul who could possibly resist him. It was |
impossible to get angry at him. |