A Girl and Her Dog

November 23, 2018

Today there is a dog hole-shaped hole in our lives. Today we lost Lily, a member of our family. Maybe lost is the wrong word, since we were all together at the end.

Lily was a side-of-the-road rescue. We don’t know if she was abandoned, or ran away, but when she was found, she was in pretty bad shape. After a few baths, a surgery for a cherry eye, and a lot of TLC, she came home to live with us. That was 2006.

From that day on, she was a constant companion. Going on walks with the family, running alongside bicycle rides, playing in the backyard, chasing balls until her short legs were too tired to chase anymore. When we were gone from home, she would lay next to the door or on the landing, awaiting our return, welcoming us with loud greetings and kisses. When bedtime came, she followed and found one of her favorite spots, either by the foot of the bed or on what became her chair.

She would always announce every arrival, letting us know when UPS was dropping off packages at the front door, or when a doorbell would ring, even on the television. In recent years, our UPS driver would leave treats for her too.

Because she was a mutt, a DNA test was ordered. It turns out this short-legged, loud, fluff ball was a combination of a Border Collie, Boxer, and Shetland Sheepdog. One of the vet techs joked that she got in the line for beautiful fur, but somehow missed the line for legs. It was a sight to see when that long body with the shortened legs would run up the stairs or slide on the hardwood floor. Often times her front end would stop and the rear end would continue going.

Her Border Collie temperament meant she would try to herd us when we were out for walks. If one of us got away from the others, she was sure to run up and try to get us back with the rest of the family. She knew the word “squirrel” and would chase at the mention of them. But she also knew to leave the bunnies that inhabited our backyard alone too.

There has never been another dog like her, nor do I think there ever will be again. So today, we remember Lily. Her life, her joy, and the love she brought to our family, and hope that wherever she is now, she is happy and healthy again.