Dallas was my beautiful female Collie and best friend. When I was a child, my favorite "Little Golden Book" was "Four Puppies." It is about four Collie puppies growing up. I was hooked on Collies after that. It took me until I was
30 years old, but I finally got two of my own, a brother and sister. They were the only two in the litter and each other's best friend.
I got them when they were 8 weeks old. They were so much fun. I was going through a difficult time in my life and they were,indeed, my "happy pills." They were so cute. Dallas was the female. The breeder had called her that because when she was born, she had a white mark the shape of Texas on her back. I liked the name. I wanted her registered name to be Miss Dallas Bright Eyes because she was so bright-eyed whereas Lakota was dreamy-eyed. But, I dubbed her Miss Dallas Precious Angel instead. Her brother was Lakota Sunshine Gold.
Dallas and Lakota were born near Stevensville, Montana, the first litter for their mother, Cassie. Their father, Corrigan, took care of her the entire time she was in labor and didn't leave her side. Dallas was 15 minutes older than Lakota, who was then called "Duffy."
From an early age, Dallas would run up to someone-- human or animal-- and give them one woof. The breeder had an ornery old Lhasa Apso that all the other dogs were afraid of. Not Dallas. She'd run right up and woof in his face. He'd back off.
She was a "talker," always trying to communicate with me vocally. The breeder said that her father, Corrigan, did that also.
I saw a documentary once that said that Collies will choose one person to be "their person." They'll love the whole family, but favor one person. Dallas chose me as that person her first night at home and I remained her favorite human her entire life.
She would often let out an enormous belch. It drew a lot of laughs from people who weren't expecting it.
Lakota was always bigger than Dallas. He was so proud of himself when he got big enough to jump into someone's lap who was sitting in a living room chair. Dallas was so miffed. But, a week or two later, she finally was able to do it and was so proud of her little self.
She always pranced, even as a puppy. She was a very showy dog. I wanted to show her, but never was able to do so.
About 6 weeks after Dallas and Lakota came home with me, some co-workers gave me an Elkhound mix puppy. I named her Cassie, which is what I wanted to name Dallas, but that was her mother's name. She was so tiny. Dallas and Lakota acted like the big brother and sister to her. She would squeeze under the gate and they would grab her hind legs and drag her back. They were inseparable their whole lives.
Lakota broke out of the kennel at age 7 and was killed by a car. Dallas and Cassie missed him, but became even closer.
Dallas recently had pneumonia, but had gotten over it. She was fine the night of the 21st. Around 4 a.m. on October 22nd, I awoke to find her in severe respiratory distress. I rushed her to the vet. While the vet was on the phone summoning more help, Dallas died in my arms. When the vet had first left the room, I took Dallas's head in my hands and told her that if she needed to go be with Lakota that it was okay and that I'd be okay. I honestly feel she understood me because immediately afterward, she stopped fighting so hard to stay with us. I prayed that if it was her time to go, that Heavenly Father would take her and not let her suffer. I didn't want to have to make that decision. I've done it before, but it's never easy. My humble prayer was answered.
I will always love Dallas. She'll always be my "baby."
30 years old, but I finally got two of my own, a brother and sister. They were the only two in the litter and each other's best friend.
I got them when they were 8 weeks old. They were so much fun. I was going through a difficult time in my life and they were,indeed, my "happy pills." They were so cute. Dallas was the female. The breeder had called her that because when she was born, she had a white mark the shape of Texas on her back. I liked the name. I wanted her registered name to be Miss Dallas Bright Eyes because she was so bright-eyed whereas Lakota was dreamy-eyed. But, I dubbed her Miss Dallas Precious Angel instead. Her brother was Lakota Sunshine Gold.
Dallas and Lakota were born near Stevensville, Montana, the first litter for their mother, Cassie. Their father, Corrigan, took care of her the entire time she was in labor and didn't leave her side. Dallas was 15 minutes older than Lakota, who was then called "Duffy."
From an early age, Dallas would run up to someone-- human or animal-- and give them one woof. The breeder had an ornery old Lhasa Apso that all the other dogs were afraid of. Not Dallas. She'd run right up and woof in his face. He'd back off.
She was a "talker," always trying to communicate with me vocally. The breeder said that her father, Corrigan, did that also.
I saw a documentary once that said that Collies will choose one person to be "their person." They'll love the whole family, but favor one person. Dallas chose me as that person her first night at home and I remained her favorite human her entire life.
She would often let out an enormous belch. It drew a lot of laughs from people who weren't expecting it.
Lakota was always bigger than Dallas. He was so proud of himself when he got big enough to jump into someone's lap who was sitting in a living room chair. Dallas was so miffed. But, a week or two later, she finally was able to do it and was so proud of her little self.
She always pranced, even as a puppy. She was a very showy dog. I wanted to show her, but never was able to do so.
About 6 weeks after Dallas and Lakota came home with me, some co-workers gave me an Elkhound mix puppy. I named her Cassie, which is what I wanted to name Dallas, but that was her mother's name. She was so tiny. Dallas and Lakota acted like the big brother and sister to her. She would squeeze under the gate and they would grab her hind legs and drag her back. They were inseparable their whole lives.
Lakota broke out of the kennel at age 7 and was killed by a car. Dallas and Cassie missed him, but became even closer.
Dallas recently had pneumonia, but had gotten over it. She was fine the night of the 21st. Around 4 a.m. on October 22nd, I awoke to find her in severe respiratory distress. I rushed her to the vet. While the vet was on the phone summoning more help, Dallas died in my arms. When the vet had first left the room, I took Dallas's head in my hands and told her that if she needed to go be with Lakota that it was okay and that I'd be okay. I honestly feel she understood me because immediately afterward, she stopped fighting so hard to stay with us. I prayed that if it was her time to go, that Heavenly Father would take her and not let her suffer. I didn't want to have to make that decision. I've done it before, but it's never easy. My humble prayer was answered.
I will always love Dallas. She'll always be my "baby."
Dallas was my beautiful female Collie and best friend. When I was a child, my favorite "Little Golden Book" was "Four Puppies." It is about four Collie puppies growing up. I was hooked on Collies after that. It took me until I was
30 years old, but I finally got two of my own, a brother and sister. They were the only two in the litter and each other's best friend.
I got them when they were 8 weeks old. They were so much fun. I was going through a difficult time in my life and they were,indeed, my "happy pills." They were so cute. Dallas was the female. The breeder had called her that because when she was born, she had a white mark the shape of Texas on her back. I liked the name. I wanted her registered name to be Miss Dallas Bright Eyes because she was so bright-eyed whereas Lakota was dreamy-eyed. But, I dubbed her Miss Dallas Precious Angel instead. Her brother was Lakota Sunshine Gold.
Dallas and Lakota were born near Stevensville, Montana, the first litter for their mother, Cassie. Their father, Corrigan, took care of her the entire time she was in labor and didn't leave her side. Dallas was 15 minutes older than Lakota, who was then called "Duffy."
From an early age, Dallas would run up to someone-- human or animal-- and give them one woof. The breeder had an ornery old Lhasa Apso that all the other dogs were afraid of. Not Dallas. She'd run right up and woof in his face. He'd back off.
She was a "talker," always trying to communicate with me vocally. The breeder said that her father, Corrigan, did that also.
I saw a documentary once that said that Collies will choose one person to be "their person." They'll love the whole family, but favor one person. Dallas chose me as that person her first night at home and I remained her favorite human her entire life.
She would often let out an enormous belch. It drew a lot of laughs from people who weren't expecting it.
Lakota was always bigger than Dallas. He was so proud of himself when he got big enough to jump into someone's lap who was sitting in a living room chair. Dallas was so miffed. But, a week or two later, she finally was able to do it and was so proud of her little self.
She always pranced, even as a puppy. She was a very showy dog. I wanted to show her, but never was able to do so.
About 6 weeks after Dallas and Lakota came home with me, some co-workers gave me an Elkhound mix puppy. I named her Cassie, which is what I wanted to name Dallas, but that was her mother's name. She was so tiny. Dallas and Lakota acted like the big brother and sister to her. She would squeeze under the gate and they would grab her hind legs and drag her back. They were inseparable their whole lives.
Lakota broke out of the kennel at age 7 and was killed by a car. Dallas and Cassie missed him, but became even closer.
Dallas recently had pneumonia, but had gotten over it. She was fine the night of the 21st. Around 4 a.m. on October 22nd, I awoke to find her in severe respiratory distress. I rushed her to the vet. While the vet was on the phone summoning more help, Dallas died in my arms. When the vet had first left the room, I took Dallas's head in my hands and told her that if she needed to go be with Lakota that it was okay and that I'd be okay. I honestly feel she understood me because immediately afterward, she stopped fighting so hard to stay with us. I prayed that if it was her time to go, that Heavenly Father would take her and not let her suffer. I didn't want to have to make that decision. I've done it before, but it's never easy. My humble prayer was answered.
I will always love Dallas. She'll always be my "baby."
30 years old, but I finally got two of my own, a brother and sister. They were the only two in the litter and each other's best friend.
I got them when they were 8 weeks old. They were so much fun. I was going through a difficult time in my life and they were,indeed, my "happy pills." They were so cute. Dallas was the female. The breeder had called her that because when she was born, she had a white mark the shape of Texas on her back. I liked the name. I wanted her registered name to be Miss Dallas Bright Eyes because she was so bright-eyed whereas Lakota was dreamy-eyed. But, I dubbed her Miss Dallas Precious Angel instead. Her brother was Lakota Sunshine Gold.
Dallas and Lakota were born near Stevensville, Montana, the first litter for their mother, Cassie. Their father, Corrigan, took care of her the entire time she was in labor and didn't leave her side. Dallas was 15 minutes older than Lakota, who was then called "Duffy."
From an early age, Dallas would run up to someone-- human or animal-- and give them one woof. The breeder had an ornery old Lhasa Apso that all the other dogs were afraid of. Not Dallas. She'd run right up and woof in his face. He'd back off.
She was a "talker," always trying to communicate with me vocally. The breeder said that her father, Corrigan, did that also.
I saw a documentary once that said that Collies will choose one person to be "their person." They'll love the whole family, but favor one person. Dallas chose me as that person her first night at home and I remained her favorite human her entire life.
She would often let out an enormous belch. It drew a lot of laughs from people who weren't expecting it.
Lakota was always bigger than Dallas. He was so proud of himself when he got big enough to jump into someone's lap who was sitting in a living room chair. Dallas was so miffed. But, a week or two later, she finally was able to do it and was so proud of her little self.
She always pranced, even as a puppy. She was a very showy dog. I wanted to show her, but never was able to do so.
About 6 weeks after Dallas and Lakota came home with me, some co-workers gave me an Elkhound mix puppy. I named her Cassie, which is what I wanted to name Dallas, but that was her mother's name. She was so tiny. Dallas and Lakota acted like the big brother and sister to her. She would squeeze under the gate and they would grab her hind legs and drag her back. They were inseparable their whole lives.
Lakota broke out of the kennel at age 7 and was killed by a car. Dallas and Cassie missed him, but became even closer.
Dallas recently had pneumonia, but had gotten over it. She was fine the night of the 21st. Around 4 a.m. on October 22nd, I awoke to find her in severe respiratory distress. I rushed her to the vet. While the vet was on the phone summoning more help, Dallas died in my arms. When the vet had first left the room, I took Dallas's head in my hands and told her that if she needed to go be with Lakota that it was okay and that I'd be okay. I honestly feel she understood me because immediately afterward, she stopped fighting so hard to stay with us. I prayed that if it was her time to go, that Heavenly Father would take her and not let her suffer. I didn't want to have to make that decision. I've done it before, but it's never easy. My humble prayer was answered.
I will always love Dallas. She'll always be my "baby."
