After a long walk on December 29th...

HARRISON RUSSELL SHAIN
2000 – 2012

Harrison Russell Shain, found “rustling” in the bushes of Harrison Park in Julian, California, died in an induced sleep on January 6th at approximately 9:30 AM after experiencing multiple complications of his hard-fought, albeit short, bout with Lymphoma. He was 11 years old.

A German Shepherd/Siberian Husky mix, at only 10 weeks, Harrison was rescued on a late afternoon in January 2001 from a local methamphetamine manufacturer who had not noticed him missing until 3:00 the following morning at which time a handful of hoodlums could be heard terrorizing the normally quiet neighborhood, breaking beer bottles and hollering for the lost puppy to no avail. That day, the neighbors who had found the dog notified the Sheriff of their discovery and made the following deal: If the original owners wanted the dog back, they would have to pick him up at the Sheriff’s station. Needless to say, no one ever showed up to get him.

Britta Lee and Marcel Shain who had lost their prized Malamute wolf, Cisco, the year before were likely candidates to adopt the puppy and after a brief interview between Britta and the soon to be dubbed Harrison, a bond was formed. Just 9 months later, that bond would be put to the test when Harrison was diagnosed with a congenital birth defect requiring immediate operations on both his knees. Britta recalls that the girls that worked at the veterinary clinic were all crying when she came back to get the test results. She was told that it was a rare client of the Julian Animal Hospital who would pay $4,000 for the necessary surgery--that most people would have simply put the dog to sleep. But it was an easy decision for Britta and Marcel who had planned a vacation to visit upstate New York and see the leaves change that historic fall of 2001. The trip was cancelled. The surgeries performed. The rest is history.

Harrison had few bad habits, but the bad ones he had were really annoying. He was a terrible beggar and when he did not get the demanded spoils, his bark could be deafening. But what dog is born a beggar? Well, certainly there are some, but in this case his human parents would have to bear the brunt of the blame for feeding him from the table. In addition to taking the occasional swipe with his tongue at unattended people food, he also liked to steal the unsuspecting diner’s napkin and shred it into a million bits, or eat it whole, as he saw fit.

For the most part, the dog was enthusiastic to a fault, practically flinging himself at the front doors of the house upon returning from a walk; he would be so excited to be home. His enthusiasm got him into trouble more than once, sometimes requiring stitches. Marcel and Britta would often joke that when all was said and done, Harrison was “The $10,000 dog.”

Incredibly smart, Harrison knew hand signals as well as verbal commands. A favorite verbal command used almost daily was “Show me the belly” in which he would roll over on his back to get his tummy rubbed. His many accomplishments ranged from pooping and peeing on command (an artifact of his knee surgery) to singing a wobbly, but heartfelt accompaniment to live harmonica and violin.

A well-traveled dog, Harrison visited Sedona, Arizona several times, Malibu, Topanga, Palm Springs, Northern and Central California and other exotic locales. Well-liked and well behaved, he enjoyed many a stay at the home of a generous friend as well as a multitude of nights at pet-friendly hotels. He preferred to be with his human “parents” above all, no matter how long the car ride—once eating his way through two vintage wooden doors when left behind. He lived in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park where he learned to co-exist with the coyotes and the rattlesnakes. But, in later life, his favorite place was Mineral King in the Sequoia National Park where the fresh, cool temperatures and alpine environment would instantly turn him back into a puppy.

Also known as Harrison Barrison, Harry Barry, just plain Hairy, The Poopster, Poopster Woopster, The Dogster, Handsome Boy, Big Boy and more, in addition to his human friends, Harrison leaves behind best buddies, Mack (a 150 lb Mastiff mix) and Big Daddy (a 5 lb Springer Spaniel). He is survived by his owners and best friends in this life, Britta Lee and Marcel Shain. He will be sorely missed.