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Hacim Rizvani from Djurdjeviste, village on the western slope of Sara, remembers one morning of February 1976, cold and misty, like day of its rebirth.
This shepherd and his herd always were accompanied in the mountain by Meca, powerful and experienced female, which had already several encounters with the wolves, largest enemy for the man and the cattle on Sara. Also with them were Murdzo and Karaman, Sarplaninci of pure breed. From time to time, the dogs raised the muzzles in the air, as to seek an odour that only they knew. The herd of 250 sheep was lead by two rams with big horns, which, suddenly, started nervously to shake their heads.
- I knew that something was not normal, Hacim Rizvani said - and I did not wish to continue further. I raised the arm and gave the signal to the dogs to stop the herd.
The dogs of Hacim were trained to know without fault what each movement of their Master meant: if he raised the left or right hand, if the arm is up or horizontal.
On his order, without word, Meca, Murdzo and Karaman started to bark and collected the herd.
- Meca, the experienced one, ran quickly and lay down near my feet - Hacim remembers.
It posed its head on his legs, but its piercing look was directed towards the herd. The sheep bleated and piled up, with low heads. It is said that they behave like that when they are jealous, when they have lambs, but I knew that now it was another problem. Little after the dogs started to howl, only briefly and then started to run around, worried. Lead by the rams, the sheep like a very large white cloud start to run beside me and the dogs could not stop them. Suddenly the first terrifying howl sounded and then a prolonged howl: I understood that we were attacked by a horde of hungry wolves. I knew that for Meca, Murdzo and Karaman the fight for the life or death was close. The reason is that the wolf is sometimes more crafty than the fox. When it is hungry, it can very quickly cut the throat of up to twenty sheep and being satisfied by only drinking their blood.
Hacim did not think that he himself would have to fight for life or death. Feeling that it can easily reach the prey, a large wolf left the forest and ran towards the sheep. However, when it saw the man right behind the herd, it ran towards him.
Like in the fever, the shepherd tried at the beginning to keep the wolf away with his stick. The famished and persistent beast nevertheless succeeded into grab his right arm, in which he held the shepherd's crook. The arm became blue and started to swell. He was quickly losing the power and due to pain he started to faint. He fell while bleeding. He in vain tried to rise. It is the end, he thought. At the same time, at the edge of unconsciousness, he saw that something bulky, greyish was running towards him. Another wolf, he was shivering. It was however the bitch Meca. She realized that her Master is in the life danger and it flew to his help.
– She was running around the wolf - all in emotion continues Hacim - by seeking the best moment to attack the wolf. When the wolf again moved towards me and when again I looked the death in the eye, the large body of Meca bend in the arc and she planted her teeth in the neck of the wolf, without hesitation. The beast howled in pain and turned in circles, while trying to take from him Meca. Suddenly Murdzo and Karaman were here. And after a short growl they courageously threw themselves on the wolf. In this mould of four strong and furious animals, the wolf succeeded to catch Murdzo with its teeth and he fell next to me, looking at me for the last time. Of h
Of his torn neck blood was running.
During that time Meca, with assistance of Karaman continued to fight against the wolf, until they defeated the attacker. The herd and the master were once again protected and saved.
Next story...
When night falls in the mountains, Ljus and Zoë are worth as much as two armed battalions. I spent my life with the flock and the Sarplaninci. The sheep neither like to be without dogs.
They say that a good dog is worth as much as half of the flock. I would not give Ljus and Zoë away for a whole flock. I know that if I would loose an entire flock I would manage to replace them but finding a good Sarplaninac is not as easy as you think. Even with good parents you can get a bad descendent. I believe that the Sarplaninac becomes a good shepherd dog only when near to the flock. Lot is needed to happen…
A few years ago they tried to start a farm of Sarplaninci in the place of Dragas but it did not work. If they asked me I would have told them this story about Zoë and Ljus. It is may be also the story about my life. My best years I spent near to the flock and the dogs. Most probably they would have understood me.
I also have another dog but it is not the same kind. It is a Sarplaninac as per its origin and appearances. However when I am in the mountains for several months, I discover who is who. For example, while I am eating, Ljus and Zoë will not come near me, they are staying with the sheep. When they are eating I am keeping an eye on the sheep. There is always somebody who has to stay with the flock. A dog who is looking into the plate of another dog is not a Sarplaninac and he is also not my dog anymore. It is my criteria when I value a dog.
I just said it, the Sarplaninac needs the flock to become a good shepherd dog and he also needs freedom! Ljus and Zoë have never been locked up for a minute or under a roof. They spent years running around the flock. If a sheep starts to limp they never abandon it. They are spending all night near to it and protect it. When you chain up a Sarplaninac, it is not growing. It can grow up to one meter, only when it is free.
Once on the mountain, a stranger came to me. While he came nearer, Ljus jumped on him. The man started to shout. I ran to protect him. It was only at that moment that the man got mad. He said that my dog could have hurt, or mutilate him, that I had to take care of my dog. He was swearing and gesticulating with his arms. At that moment Ljus jumped on him without getting the order from me. He knocked him down and kept him on the ground. I never saw Ljus like that. I approached again not saying anything to Ljus, I searched the man. His documents looked strange to me. I left the flock to Ljus and I went to the police station. It appeared that the man was a fugitive and that he wanted to cross the border…
However the hardest test is the confrontation with the wolf. Ljus was very young when one night the wolves came.
I was sleeping with the sheep. It was very cold. I woke up on time but I was powerless, I did not dare to move. I thought that Ljus was a coward as I did not hear him!
I did not come to the end of this thought or Ljus jumped on the first wolf. He became a shepherd’s dog.
I believe that a good shepherd dog is as intelligent as a human. Sometimes when I think about it, I am surprised and even afraid. Up there on the mountain, when you are all alone everything seems different.
For example Zoë, she has never abandoned the flock. She only abandoned me once. It was to give birth. She went up into the rocks. When night was falling I was thinking how much vulnerable and helpless I was without her. I thought all the time about her. I knew it was also not easy for her. She also was all alone. That night the wolves killed some sheep. Even the gun was of no help.
The next day Zoë appeared. She checked the flock, as usual, and she stopped. It looked to me as if she put down her head. I went to her and caressed her. We stayed a long time like that. Afterward
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