In Loving Memory of Mies.

Mies, aka Orion + Eden’s Mies van der Rohe, 13, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2018, with his head on the lap of his human sibling, Michaela. He was put to sleep due to complications of old age, surrounded by his family in the shade of a stately sycamore tree at West Queen Anne Playfield in Seattle, Washington where he and his late nephew, Oslo, spent hours romping and playing. Born on August 24, 2004 in Pasco, Washington, Mies was the offspring of Ch. Orion’s Madison V Reiteralm B and CANCH, USCH Orion’s Jaeger V Reiteralm CD, MH, RDX, SD, TD, VX3, BROM. His sire was owned by Stephanie Horner, founder of Eden Weimaraners. 

Mies came to his owners when he was six months old, having been returned to the breeder because his original owners were dumb of a bad match between his first owners and the breed; Weimaraners are not for everyone. Although Mies suffered somewhat from his early few months, his forever family was ultimately the beneficiary of these unfortunate chain of events. We were privileged to share our lives with this wonderful dog. 

Mies was disqualified as a show dog due to a genetic eye defect, but he earned his Canine Good Citizen certification in 2006. He was an incredibly smart, loyal, and affectionate dog, one who figured out early on, much to his owners’ dispair, how to unlatch crates and open cabinets and doors: our mad little science professor.

Anyone who met Mies would describe him as a sweet, affectionate, yet vulnerable little house spirit; there was a certain je ne sais quoi about him that endeared him to people. Due to maltreatment during his formative months, he suffered from severe separation anxiety, not uncommon in Weimaraners, and also fear aggression, especially with other dogs; he was predictably unpredictable. Like other members of his breed, he was happiest when he was within inches of or touching at least one of his owners, and leary of most other dogs, except for Oslo and later, Fredrick. As is the nature of Weimaraners, he was physically stunning, athletic, and graceful; his natural gait was a prance not unlike a thoroughbred race horse, his head and mannerisms especially dignified and regal. Mies loved swimming in waters on both coasts; falling into Drumheller Fountain at the University of Washington (okay, he only did that once, but it was unforgettable!); chewing on our houses and furniture; sniffing out things Oslo missed; eating wild blackberries right off the bush; and counter surfing. 

Mies lived most of his life in Seattle, minus five years on the East Coast when his family moved to Washington, D.C. and later, Baltimore, Maryland, after which he once again made the cross-country drive as his people returned to Seattle (Mies had escape routes from a variety of kennels: checking him in a cage as airline cargo would have ended in disaster).

While Mies was not bred, he is survived by his canine relatives: half brother Fredrick (aka Zauberhaft + Eden’s The Brother Imperial), 14 months, of Seattle, half brother Bru (aka Zauberhaft + Eden’s Sir Mac and Jac), 14 months of Bellevue, Washington, and sister Kia (Ch. Orion N Eden’s Kia JH, RN, NSD, NRD), 13, of Everett, Washington, as well as many other siblings, canine cousins, aunts, and uncles. Surviving humans who knew him and will always love him are his owners Callie Neylan and Will Dixon of Seattle, WA; Stephanie Horner of Federal Way, WA; Michaela Pomeroy and Bria Johnson of Seattle, WA; Elisabeth and Rosa Lazzarini of Bellevue, WA; Rocky Salskov and Janet Busey of Seattle, WA; Laura Dimarco of Kennewick, WA, and Seth Pomeroy of Anchorage, Alaska.

Mies was an incredibly fortunate dog with owners who loved him like family from the day he was adopted and provided him with shelter, love, good food, romps in the woods, and regular, high-quality veterinary care. Not all dogs are so lucky: donations in Mies’s memory can be made to the Seattle Humane Society, Western WA Weimaraner Club, or the animal welfare society of your choice.

Mies’s remains will be scattered with Oslo’s over the Salish Sea from the shores of Discovery Park at a memorial service whose date and time is to be determined.