Iris was a blessing to my life in a time when I needed her. Unless you knew her you didn't understand who she truly was, a couch hippo, protector of her pack, and without a doubt the most loving animal I've ever known. In the Wild West days the natives believed to "break" a horse was to gain the trust and love of that animal unlike the ways of the cowboys to break the animals spirit and make it listen. Being Cherokee and Scottish I learned a lot from my native family. I always thought I understood it until I met Iris. She was the full canine embodiment of unconditional love.