Vic was my partner for almost 13 years. She arrived on our farm with our sheep at age three. She was already a working border collie, was pregnant, and had 10 puppies shortly thereafter. What an adventure that was!
Her main job was to round up the sheep after a day of grazing and herd them back to the barn. When a storm arrived too quickly, into it she would charge and bring the sheep to safety. She continued to work right up to the end of her life. When not working she was watching over me. . .
Her time here ended mid December, it was graceful, just a slow fading, and then she was off. Thankfully I had just been with her telling her how I loved her and what gratitude I had of our time together.
The grief process is one I have traveled before. I know its pathways, and the gentle time it takes to go on the journey. There was no immediate thought about another dog except about how I was going to manage the sheep this summer. Then, around the beginning of January, I started looking. A puppy would not be old enough to help out this summer, rescue borders were available but with no working history, and so many said they could not go to a home with cats (we have cats). Then a picture appeared in an advertisement, it was his eyes that caught me, last dog available in a litter born July 19, 2013. Raised on a farm around livestock, training has started.
I e-mailed the breeder and asked if he got along with cats, and if he was showing herding instincts. Her reply was yes, his best friend was a Maine Coon Cat (we have a Maine Coon cat!) and he was herding the cattle away from the water trough. I figured, if he can herd cattle, sheep would be the next step.
So today I would like to introduce you to Arthur, he is by my feet as I write, just like Vic would have been. The Border Collie bonds quickly and is devoted. They have worked with man longer than other breeds, and in doing so, are extremely sensitive and watch our every move. He is making the grieving process a kind one, we talk of Vic as we talk of Arthur. With each conversation Vic moves just a little more from grief and loss to being with us once again, just in a different way.
To our dear friends. . .
~ Deb
