OLIE UPDATE FROM MIKE AND CHRIS

Here is an update on OLIE, our Ola dog, going on 3 years.  It was a long arduous summer with our big white "Akbash" cow dog, OLIE.  He gave Chris and I quite a few nervous days, as we fed him through the summer up in Timber Flat and Hi Valley, on the Hoff grazing lease, that the Carlocks have.  Allan and Sharon Sutton, who supplied all of the gas, and use of their 4 wheel drive ATV, as most of the places, where he guarded his heard,  was not accessible by any of my 2 wheel drive ATV's. This was a 26 mile round-trip endeavor, every other day.  This worked well for the first 2 months, but later in the grazing season the cattle spread out for the grass,  and after becoming familiar with all of the cows, it became obvious that he had attached himself with a Charlaise cow and calf, that could not be found.  I kept going up for the whole month of September to look for him, to no avail. I thought for sure he had been, either shot, or taken by the wolves. Then on September 30th, Chris and I were looking for him as always, after an hour and a half of searching, decided to call it a day.  Heading home we rounded a corner up in the forest, and there he was in the trail looking at me and barking, as if scolding me.  I was so surprised and excited to see him, I put on the brakes and almost went through the windshield, and Chris through me.  He was extremely mal nourished, with all of his ribs showing, but was alive.  We decided not to over feed him as it may have made him sick, but went back 8 hours later, and fed him again.  There is so much more to his story, but that is the long and short of it.  He now is guarding Butch and Joyce Biggers herd, and has been since October.  He gets fed everyday now, with a diet of 3 pounds of dry food, soft, heated dog food with oil and bread, and a snack of summer sausage.  I would like to thank the Ola Ladies club for donating enough money to get his worming done this year, and Allan and Sharon Sutton for the use of their ATV during the summer months, and all of the community that keeps us posted on his whereabouts.  Thanks to the whole Ola community for caring.  Mike and Chris

PS we were so taken with the breed, that we have rescued and adopted a 9 month old "Akbash" for ourselves.  see the attached picture.