Lhasa Aspos and the Dalai Lama

During the late 1950s and early 1960s the local newspapers frequently reported international news of the Dalai Lama, spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism and political leader of Tibet.  Because the People’s Republic of China, a communist country, considered Tibet to be a part of the Republic, the Dalia Lama fled his country and took up residency in India hoping to establish an autonomous Tibetan state.   

The national symbol of Tibet was the Lhasa Aspos dog, a breed that originated in Tibet about 800 BC, and was accustomed to altitudes of 14,000 feet. Historically these dogs served as sentinels at palaces and monasteries isolated high in the Himalayas of Tibet. In the country, it was forbidden to buy or sell a Lhasa; they could only be given as gifts.  The Dalai Lama often gave golden -colored Lhasa Apsos to visiting diplomats and royalty as a good will token wishing them health and prosperity.   The breed arrived in America as early as 1935.

 In 1953 Red China destroyed as many of the dogs as they could in their attempt to destroy Tibetan independence. However, prior to that, the 14^th Dali Lama had sent a pair to Lt Col Hamilton of the USA as a gift after the colonel visited Tibet.  The Hamilton’s had a kennel in California from where Mr. and Mrs. George Gillespie of 210 Monroe St, Lawrenceville acquired two Lhasa Aspos pups in September 1969.   The three-month-old pups from the same litter had different coats: one was golden, the other pure black.  They were quite newsworthy in Lawrence County including having their photograph taken by the Daily Record.