Like most kennels, Keymaster Danes was started with one special female, Zool. There are not enough words to describe this wonderful Dane. Her gentle spirit and keen intelligence made her truly unique. She was a great ambassador for the breed, charming her way into the hearts of all who met her. She will forever hold a very special place in my heart.

I feel I owe everything that Keymaster is today to Zool. The characteristics she passed along to her offspring account for the quality of the Great Danes under the Keymaster prefix. I extend special thanks and eternal gratitude to Zool's breeder, Jean Churan, DVM who not only bred this wonderful Dane, but also gave me so much support and good advice throughout the years. 

Zool was highly versatile and epitomized everything a Dane should be. She participated in conformation shows and obedience trials, agility, pet therapy visits, commercials, parades, community events, and acted as a demonstration dog for my obedience classes. We traveled all over the Pacific Northwest attending dog shows and making new friends along the way. Perhaps our greatest adventure was in 1994, when Zool and I drove cross-country from Washington state to Florida and back.

Sadly, my beloved Zool was taken at the age of 8 years due to acute septicemia, a complication of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. I knew Zool had made a major impression on my life, but I didn't realize she had touched so many others until the cards, letters, flowers, and e-mails poured in after her death. She had truly made friends where ever she went! She was one of those who put the GREAT in Great Dane. Her passing was a great loss, but I am always comforted to know her wonderful qualities live on through her progeny.

You've been so kind and generous
I don't know how you keep on giving
For your kindness, I'm in debt to you
And I never could have come, this far without you
For everything you've done, you know I'm bound,
I'm bound to thank you for it.

I want to thank you for so many gifts you gave
The love, the tenderness, I want to thank you
I want to thank you for your generosity, the love
And the honesty that you gave me
I want to thank you, show my gratitude
My love, and my respect for you, I want to thank you.
~Natalie Merchant