Faun's World - a Story Of a Little Saluki

I am one of Hilkka's Kirman N-litter. There were 7 of us, 4 boys and 3 girls. I was the first to get an official name: Kirman Nargil. I am fawn with black fringes, and as you know, we fawns are almost black when we born. Hilkka thought I looked like a coconut when I was a new-born, so she named me Nargil, a coconut.

We had a wonderful summer to grow up, tenderly bred by Hilkka. When the autumn came, some of my sisters and brothers moved to their new homes. I was a pretty puppy, too, but still nobody seemed to be interested in me. There were so many of us. But I didn't worry, I had a good home with Hilkka.

Hilkka was the one who started calling me Fauni. Once, when she was again calling for me: 'Hey, fawn boy, come here !', she realized that my name could be Fauni. Fawn and faun sound a lot alike (also in Finnish !) and both words describe me really well. Like mentioned, my colour is fawn and I am very much like a faun, free and untamed spirit of the forest, born on Midsummer. So Fauni I became!

Then one day, when I was almost 6 months old, a girl with her father came to see me. I didn't like the girl too much, I was happy with Hilkka and her other dogs. But obviously the girl liked me: some days later I was on my way to spend a period of probation with the girl so that she could see if she wanted me or not. Within two days the girl had fallen in love with me and told me she would never ever give me away. I had come home ! 'Home, sweet home', they say, but I say home isn't home until you have decorated it to be exactly what you want it to be ! Now I had a new Mum, but I still wasn't quite pleased with my life. So I started decorating. I made the most of every moment Mum spent away from me. According to Saluki aesthetics, a home is beautiful and cosy when you have

- chewed the sitting-room table
- pulled out all the paddings from the armchair
- dug a big hole on the sofa
- read the newspaper properly
- moved all Mum's clothes from the closet all over the flat (and preferably peed on them)...

And the plants might want new pots. And Mum doesn't really need those books. Or the remote control. Or so many shoes. Or... It is also worth of remembering, that if you really need something Mum has put into the closet or drawer, the doors are just too easy to open - until Mum decides to buy a big lock and take the keys with her. Not fair ! But Mum, what are you doing sitting on the floor with big salty water drops on your cheeks ? I did try to do my best, you know ! However, lately I've been rather satisfied with the flat. It is also much nicer to meet Mum after her day at work or school when she gets as glad to see me as I get to see her.

Every now and then we pack our things and take the train to meet Grandma and Grandpa. Visiting them is always great. They have a house with a nice back yard where you can see squirrels and hedgehogs. Sometimes, when Mum is extremely busy at school or work, I spend a few weeks living with Grandma and Grandpa. It is nice: Grandpa takes me out for long walks in the forest and Grandma gives me some extra treats. But seeing Mum again is, of course, even better.

The first 4 years of my life, at Grandma's and Grandpa's there lived also Fami, Mum's old saluki (born 1989, died 2001), my great-uncle, who wouldn't have liked it in a flat since he had always lived in a house. Fami didn't want to play with me too often, since he was so old and sophisticated, but we got along well. It was nice to tell him what I had done lately and then cuddle up next to him on the sofa.

"The best company for a Saluki is another Saluki."  That's what Mum kept thinking. In the autumn 2002 my son Tuikku came to my life. He was a little ray of light, always ready to fool around. We gave Mum interesting moments when we started wrestling in the living room at 4.00 am, or ran wild in the back yard of Grandma and Grandpa. I was The Boss in the house, naturally. Still, whenever we spent even a short time away from eachother, the joy of getting together again was overwhelming!

Tuikku moved to the Rainbow Bridge very unexpectedly in May 2005, and left an empty place to our lives. A saluki companion was more than necessary to both Mum and me, so in moved my young son Veeti. I have taught him some nice wrestling moves, so we can already have so much fun together! Well, I have to confess that nowadays I leave the night parties for the youngster; trust me, he keeps Mum occupied for two ;)  but daytime is ok for getting wild.

Photos on this page: Hilkka Nousiainen, Heli Perkkiö and Harri Alaperä.