[oldE]

Yesterday was another "Goodbye".
Five and a half years ago, the SPCA and RCMP closed down a puppy mill in the next province. They seized 149 dogs. One of them was a Sheltie in the silver /grey coloring. She was pregnant when seized, had the pups and weaned them before she was permitted to go to a foster home. Because of our work with shelter dogs in this area, we were allowed to adopt her .
When we got her home we were saddened by her condition. She had spent the first three years of her life in a cage, constantly pregnant or lactating.
Our short haired border collie wasn't sure what to make of her at first, but set about teaching her to be a dog.
At first she could walk only about 15 yards before resting, but with 6 acres of field in front of the house, she had lots of room to practice and was soon taking walks by herself around the perimeter. In the first few weeks with us, she stole one of my wife's mittens and kept it in her bed. She didn't have any of her puppies, but she had a life. She never grasped the idea of play. Balls were nothing to her save to be avoided.
She was the most non-reactive dog I have ever met. When she felt threatened, she would 'go inside herself'. She never did go upstairs. One floor was enough for her.
Last month, she started seeking attention, coming over to us to ask to be petted. It was great to see her reaching out.
Last week she started vomiting. The eventual diagnosis was blockage due to numerous cancerous masses. Now she lies beneath a pine tree I can see from our bedroom window. Maybe in time her spirit will be reunited with those pups taken from her.
Goodbye Gaia.

I hate this part.
Les