I knew this day was going to come, when the old girl would breath her last, but still, I was not prepared for how hard it was to say good bye. Only just the week before she was still helping out with chores.
On Sept. 9th 2003 Shian Fireflight Shiloh known as Shian or just Shi has gone on to other sheep pastures.
At the age of 13, she left behind a legacy bespeaking a most awesome Border Collie.
Many of today’s trialers and ranch dog owners have her name on their own dog’s pedigree. She had born and mothered 50 pups in 6 litters. Jill Brody’s Reno, Ron Gale’s Glen, Lee Lumb’s Shae, and my own Teag, just to name a few.
Shian would have stood apart even without her breeding contribution. She had a heart of gold, would do anything for me. There was the time at Seabird island trial when John Templeton put on a clinic. He watched her work and turned to the critiquing group of handlers and asked "Can anybody find fault with this bitch, there is nothing I can point out." After the lunch break at the near-by restaurant, I discovered I had accidentally locked my dogs in the car with the keys inside. Shi got them for me and handed them through the crack in the back window. With the keys in hand, I opened the car door to let my dogs out, I heard applause behind me as the other trialers had been watching to see if indeed this girl, could actually get me those keys. Later Mr. Templeton asked if I had a selling price on this girl. Sorry John, she was priceless.
As a St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog she would give a dog’s love to bed-ridden patience and old folks who couldn’t get outdoors. I remember the time she held up a red rose very carefully between her teeth, to a very old, thin woman who lay expressionless, slumped in her wheel chair, not watching or seemingly even aware of her surroundings. Shi sat at this woman’s side, patiently waiting. Then clumsily, the thin hawk-like fingers reached for the flower. Without dropping the rose Shian passed it to her and the woman held it to her chest staring at the dog, her hand trembling. Through out that visit, the old woman’s eyes followed Shian. Only the Lord knows what was going on in her mind.
Then there was the time when my very much-loved Father in Law had just died. Upset as I was, I decided to still take in the up coming trial to help occupy my mind. Shian won that trial along with the Best Pen, Best Outfield Work, Best Shed, everything that an Open dog could win. Did she know how sad I was and did she do her best to cheer me??
I owe that dog so much and she just wanted to have a good scratch behind the ears and be allowed to work...and be a part of what I was doing.
Beside our picnic table, when she breathed her last and her body relaxed, her tail began to wag. Could she see those "other" sheep pastures.
Good bye Shian, it
was an honor and a privilege to have you at my side for all these years.
You will live on in your offspring and your children’s offspring
and their offspring.