CMP Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 He was not a Border Collie, but all his friends and "family" were and sometimes he seemed to think he was one, too. I lost my last Nova Scotia Duck Toller today. At 16, it was time and last night when he could not move and I had to drag his bed into my room so I could listen to his breathing, I knew I had to do it. Tollers are a lot like Border Collies - smart, loyal, trustworthy. Mikey was also kind, gentle and about the best service dog that ever lived. He could find ANY scent in the air, didn't mind being dropped from a helicopter and would not quit until he found what he was looking for. He saved peoples lives. Several of them over the years. He got more cards, letters and presents than I did If I had to pick one dog, just one, to take to a dessert island with me, it would have been Mikey. His last words were, fittingly, a ghost of a "found them" call. He passed gently, surrounded by creatures that loved him, and has gone on to rest under the big chestnut tree by the swimming pond, where he had his mud hole and buried his bones. He worked hard and well, he was good at his job. He was a good friend and companion and I will miss him terribly. Go on, Mikey, take a rest, you earned it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nancy Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 I'm so sorry. He sounds like a wonderful hero of a pup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentleLake Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 I'm so sorry for your loss, CMP. It sounds like Mikey was a dog in a million (aren't they all?) and will be sorely missed. RIP, sweet Mikey. roxanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom of Mya Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 RIP Mikey. It is so hard to lose them after having them so long and working that closely with them I am sure. Sounds like you were both blessed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxi Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 Sounds a truly amazing dog, CMP. I'm sorry for your loss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mdaniels Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 I'm very sorry for the loss of your friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloria Atwater Posted September 30, 2014 Report Share Posted September 30, 2014 What a lovely eulogy for a lovely, rare dog. Thank you for sharing him with us. Peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gideon's girl Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Thanks for sharing your beautiful boy with the world. The world will never be the same again. I'm so sorry for your loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maralynn Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 I'm so sorry. Run free, Mikey. You did real good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G. Festerling Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 I am so, so sorry. He sounds like he was a grand old man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gcv-border Posted October 3, 2014 Report Share Posted October 3, 2014 My sincere condolences. From your description, you provided the work he loved and he excelled at it. What a special dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shetlander Posted October 4, 2014 Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 I am so sorry for your loss of such a fine dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TEC Posted October 4, 2014 Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 Mikey had a long, full life and will be missed by many. I liked the back story on duck tollers. So sorry for your loss. -- TEC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushdoggie Posted October 4, 2014 Report Share Posted October 4, 2014 I'm sorry for your loss. He sounds like an amazing dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody & Duchess Posted October 5, 2014 Report Share Posted October 5, 2014 What an amazing dog to share some time with. So sorry for your loss. You were blessed to be his person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted October 9, 2014 Report Share Posted October 9, 2014 I'm sorry for your loss. Run free Mikey. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMP Posted October 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2014 Thanks to everyone for their condolences. I don't know about heart dogs. I can think of three dogs that I could not bear NOT to call that. Mikey was one of them. As has happened to me before, I am sorry that I never kept one of his puppies. But - eh - if I kept one of every litter from a special dog, they would be doing a tv special about me - and not in a good way. I hung his collar on the honour wall today (like a dog trophy case - a wall in one of the tack rooms where we hang the collars of our working dogs that have passed). He has the distinction of being the only non stockdog on the wall. My grandfather used to say that you could tell the real value of a dog by the stories that people told about it when they passed its collar. Let's hope Mikey generates a story or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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