December 2007

It is very difficult to believe that Mari is already 6 years old. At that age Danes are considered veterans in the conformation ring. Good thing that Mari does not have to worry about it.
She has become the Queen of Naps which she takes very seriously. Mari has always been more of an aloof dog but now she disappears to her bedroom all the time. I think she now considers Reeney to be a relief more than a pest since she took over the responsibilities of Cosmo's playmate. Mari still comes down to give Cosmo a run-around but is glad to be able to relax without him bugging her with his never ending fountain of energy.
Sometimes, although not often enough, we take "kids" to run free in the baseball field that is not too far away from us. Unless you could see it, you would never believe Mari's speed and force. She puts her heart and sole into running free and outlasts both Cosmo and Reeney. I think those two get quite frustrated since Mari cannot ever be caught. She lets them get close and even closer but at the very last moment changes direction in one swift movement. She flies over the ground barely touching it. She is my flying Dane...

Summer 2003

We were blessed with Mari (pronounced mahr-ee) a few months before Cosmo joined our family. She is from Harlequin Haven Great Dane Rescue and was 1 ½ years old upon arriving to our home. She is a mis-marked Mantle Dane with the sweetest disposition. As with all rescues, Mari was in need of a forever home but in Mari's instance, she was the one doing the rescuing. Mari was coming to our home after the loss of our first Great Dane, Zeus. Even though you can never replace a friend, she certainly filled our house with love and purpose again after such a tragic and unexpected loss.

Mari isn't a show dog; she is simply a family member, but there is nothing simple about her as she is refined, gentle and loving.