By Kim J. Harmon

Only about 18 months ago, Wynne – the Keeshond formerly known as Keesha – was banished to the basement of a West Hartford home. Her once luxurious coat of fur was matted and covered with filth.

She was unwanted.

Unloved.

But thanks to Keeshond Rescue and the love of Dan and Margaret Spinner of Sandy Hook, Wynne now has a beautiful new home – a forever home – with a new Keeshond big brother (Dutch) and an interesting feline friend (Biscuit).

This is just one of many tales of Keeshonden (plural for Keeshond) rescued from abuse and near squalor conditions – going from unwanted, abandoned, neglected, lost or mistreated pets to members of a loving home.

And it was Wynne’s tale of rescue that has gotten her a spot in the 2000 Keeshond Rescue Calendar, right alongside Muggs, Kiesha, Keyah, Puff Puff, Brutus, Dolly, Poppy, Kaci, Moon Dancer, Smoky, Lucky and Bear (the Kees of the new millenium).

Yep, Wynne is Miss July 2000.

Dan and Margaret Spinner rescued Wynne from her West Hartford home right about the turn of the new year, 1999. After a different rescue attempt fell through, the Spinner’s found an ad for Wynne (then named Keesha) on Yahoo! and made an attempt to contact the owner. Although there was no reply at first, the owner called the Spinners around New Year’s Eve and said the dog still needed a new home.

“We went to see her,” said Dan, “and knew we couldn’t leave without her.”

The dog – now about five years old – had originally been purchased from a pet shop for the former owner’s children, but quickly became an unwanted pet. She was forced to live in the basement without attention and without proper care.

The Spinners took her away from all that.

At the time, though, Dutch (who was bought in a pet store) was the master of the house (although the cat, Biscuit, might argue that). The Spinners arranged the first meeting between the two Keeshonden over at Treadwell Park, then brought them home together to try and avoid a turf issue.

Initial shyness and reticence aside, it took Wynne (who weighs about 35 pounds) and Dutch (at a more robust 50 pounds) only about seven months or so to become fast friends.

“They get along great now,” said Margaret. “Sometimes they even snuggle together.”

Wynne has come a long way since moving to Sandy Hook – becoming a star in her obedience class while learning how great it is to be clean, groomed, and loved. Wynne likes to take walks on a leash and take rides in the car with her new family.

As beautiful a breed as the Keeshonden are, Wynne is not exactly rare in her own neighborhood. On some of their walks around Philo Curtis Road, Margaret said she and Wynne have come across other Keeshonden over on Jo-Mar and Jeremiah Roads.

It’s one big Keeshonden community.

“They are beautiful dogs,” said Margaret. “They are really friendly, companion dogs.”

According to source information on Yahoo!, the Keeshond (pronounced kayz-hawnd) is the national dog of Holland. The breed was the symbol of the Patriot faction in Holland during political unrest in the years immediately preceding the French Revolution.

The American Kennel Club accepted the Keeshond for registration in 1930.

The Keeshond is defined as “a natural, handsome dog of well-balanced, short-coupled body, attracting attention not only by his coloration, alert carriage, and intelligent expression, but also by his stand-off coat, his richly plumed tail well curled over his back, his foxlike expression, and his small pointed ears. His coat is very thick around the neck, fore part of the shoulders and chest, forming a lion-like ruff-more profuse in the male. His rump and hind legs, down to the hocks, are also thickly coated, forming the characteristic ‘trousers.’ His head, ears, and lower legs are covered with thick, short hair.”

Keeshond Rescue is an Internet-based organization devoted to helped all Keeshonded who are unwanted, abandoned, neglected, lost or mistreated. The Rescue accepts dogs from individuals, shelters, humane societies, and owners.

Prior to placement in their so-called forever homes, dogs often take up temporary residence in foster homes for, according to Keeshond Rescue Online, “safety, socialization, evaluation and medical care.”

A large network of volunteers helps transport Keeshonden (through the Keeshond Rescue Railroad) from foster homes to their forever homes – from a few miles away to a few thousand miles away from where the animals came into rescue.

Keeshond Rescue, which does solicit donations from people adopting dogs or from owners releasing dogs, is in the process of incorporating the Keeshond Sunshine Rescue Foundation as an IRS-approved non-profit charity.

The calendars are one of the ways the foundation attempts to fund itself. There are a few 2000 calendars left ($18 for color and $12 for black & white) and orders are now being taken for the 2001 calendars. Anyone wishing to order a calendar can write to KSRF, c/o Karen Murphy, 4420 Mozart Avenue, Dayton, Ohio, 45424-5968 or e-mail klramsey@earthlink.net.

To learn more about Keeshond Rescue Online and the Keeshond Sunshine Rescue Foundation go to http://www.keeshond.com

From there, you can see dogs open for rescue or visit the Keeshond Rescue Store.

To ask questions and help with the Keeshond Rescue Railroad or the rescue of Keeshonden, visit http:// www.keeshond-l@apple.ease .lsoft.com on the web.