I have adopted 2 Akitas in the last year. One an 8 yo Male, Buddy and the other a few months later a 10 mo. old Female, Geisha. Buddy was a victim of a bitter and ugly divorce eventually landing him abandoned in Montana running free. At some point he was picked up by a shelter in Montana, while there he was attacked by another dog. In the battle his neck was seriously injured by the shelter attandants having to pull the two of them apart. He is still sore and sensitive to this day. He was to be euthanized when Idaho Akita Rescue/Seattle Akita Rescue got together to rescue him. His nickname in rescue became "Grizzor", because he looks like a grizzly bear and walks like Eoyre (sp- winnie the pooh) When I first met Buddy we became great friends, I even fought with my husband to get him. He didn't fight long, once he met him that argument was over. LOL We enjoyed Buddy so much it wasn't long until we brought Geisha into our home. Geisha spent the first 8mos of her life in a crate/4x5 cell. She had never even seen grass and had very little human contact. Her owner planned to drop her and her brother along the side of the round on a cross-country trip when the rescue found them. She stayed with her rescue parents for several months learning many basic things before we were blessed to have her. I never thought of how to teach a dog how to go down stairs. That was fun. She is a pleasure to have, she even helps keep Buddy young and he teaches her proper manners. It is a blessing to have them both. Please refer everyone who wants to add a new friend to thier home and are ready to make a full commitment to save a rescue animal. They come in all breeds, types and etc. Don't let them continue to be abused or euthanized.