Dante (Tina is under construction)

      "Dante" is a big dog. He is a mixed breed consisting of 75% German Shepard, 12.5% Collie and 12.5% Labrador. He was born January 5, 1995 and his name then was "Bengan". His mother's name was "Donna" and she was a German Shepard. His father's name was "Sluggo" and he was part German Shepard and part Labrador/Collie. Kim Stenanger was Bengan's owner then and he lived in Norrkoping, just outside of Stockholm. Bengan was bought from a young girl who had rheumatism and when he was 1 ½ years old she couldn't handle the big, strong dog. Ola Svensson from Vadstena bought Bengan and from the girl and became his new master. Ola even changed the name of the dog to "Dante". Ola moved from place to place and finally ended up at Ola's parents in Stavershult just outside Oerkelljunga. They already had a 6 year old German Shepard and he certainly didn't welcome the new dog. The situation became tense and the two dogs were partly locked in an old car to avoid a confrontation between the two dogs. An advertisement was placed in a newspaper that they wanted to give away the dog. A family from Helsingborg, who lived in an apartment answered the ad but the next day Dante was back. The family couldn't keep him because he cried all night. The next day Ola's father contacted "Djurjouren", which is a shelter for troubles animals.

      Oerkelljunga Wednesday April 9, 1997, Svenn Erik:

      I was in my way home, driving threw Orkelljunga when I saw a man I knew standing outside his home. I stopped to say hello. Gert Carlson was his name and I knew that he worked for "Djurjouren". He showed me a litter of puppies, Labrador/Golden Retriever/Greyhound and they were so sweet that I had to stay and watch them play. I asked Gert and Eva if they had found a home for the big dog I had read about in the newspaper the day before. Then they became enthusiastic. Couldn't I take the dog, please! Well I couldn't of course because my family lived in Denmark and you can't bring the dog thru the border. They said yes and that there was no problem. We were now in EU (the European Union) and then you just needed two rabies vaccinations and a vetrenarian certificate and if I only could take the dog. The dog was just outside of Oerkelljunga in Stavershult and we could take a ride right now just to look at him. No thanks! Both Irene and I have had dogs before and we had a discussion about it and we had decided not to get another dog, so thanks, but no thanks. Then I went home.

      At home I accidently mentioned it to Irene. My Idiot! She started at once: We can take a look at him. It doesn't mean that we have to take him and it's not that far away, nothing else to do tonight, so please can't we. Well damn it. We took my son Brian and his girlfriend with us in the car and went to "Djurjouren". There we said that we had discussed the situation (?) and we would like to see the dog first. They told us about the big dog of mixed breed a little smaller than Gert and Eva's German Shepard female dog. He caused only trouble and he was angry at the other dogs and the master was anxious to get rid of him as soon as possible. Gert was picking up another dog on his was to Stavenshult so we drove ahead.

      We found the place at once. In the yard we were welcomed by a young man who presented himself as Ola. He told us about his fathers dog who was in charge of the place and his own dog Dante who didn't get along well together. That was why he had to get rid of the dog. We talked in the yard for a short while and then we went inside to say "Hello" to "our dog". Good grief! In the door we met a Dog with capital D, 70 cm (more then 2 feet) over the back, and about 35 kilograms (75 pounds) looking like a German Shepard but with hanging ears and friendly warm brown eyes. I asked Ola where to find the dog and he said surprisingly that he was the dog. It was a long salutation where we were all sniffed and licked all over our faces and hands. "Dante" was his name and he was very friendly and affectionate. What a wonderful dog. I fell immediately in love with him. If I should get another dog it would have to be Dante.

      We were offered coffee and I showed a couple of my card tricks but mostly we talked about Dante. I forgot about my wife and son in all the excitement and was only thinking about the dog. Every now and then I had to pet him, and it wasn't difficult to do. He lay under the table and warmed our feet and he was so big that we all could pet him at the same time all 8 of us without even touching each other. After a while we had reached an agreement. Under the circumstances we couldn't take him that day but on Saturday Ola could bring him to our home. We were so happy when we went back home. Guess what we talked about in the car on our way home?