700th Post

This is our 700th  post and we will celebrate it by talking about an event that significantly changed Dog Dad’s life fourteen years ago.  31 December 2003 is the day Dad drove north from Key West and was adopted by Essex.  She was the last of her litter to be adopted.  Dad is convinced he got the best puppy from that litter.  He had contacted Lil at Holmhaven Collies earlier that month and found out she was still available. 

Essex Holmhaven Puppy Pawtograph

Essex Investigating Her Home

Essex Walking Around Her Home The First Time

Essex Sleeping On Her Back

Dad drove three and a half hours north to Holmhaven.  When he arrived Essex came over and chewed on his shoe lace.  Dad gave her a belly rub and she was smitten with him.  Dad and Essex got in the collie-mobile and Essex panicked.  She wanted to stay with her brother Buddy.  She climbed up Dad’s arm and cried for about ten minutes.  Dog Dad kept stroking her and spoke in calm steady voice.  Essex relaxed to that voice.  Half way to Key West Dad stopped so Essex could go potty.

Essex fell asleep and awoke when the truck stopped at home.  Dad let her investigate the yard and a strong bond grew between the two.  That night Essex woke up Dad to go to the bathroom by licking his foot. 

Essex changed Dad’s life so many ways.  Angel Paws Dog Park was built the month Essex arrived in Key West.  Dad and Essex discovered it a couple months latter.  There are so many pups and hoomans Dad has met over the years.  Some were met at Angel Paws, some due to the Key West Collie blog, others were pups from Holmhaven Collies, and then there was a place called Dog’s With Blogs.  In 2007 the collies joined Dog’s With Blogs which was kind of like Camelot.   Essex and Deacon sadly saw that group fade away several short years after it started.  Fortunately the chat room remains and the Collies still chat with our pal angel-dog Skye and some other pups on most Sundays. 

 

Angel Paws

Essex Created A Dirt Path From Fence Patrol

There are sad and happy memories.  Dad has visions of Essex on fence patrol and dirt path she created along the fence line.  He remembers Essex staying by his bed when he was sick, her gentle lick, her sleeping on her back and how they watched out after each other.

 

Essex And Deacon 

Deacon's Holmhaven Puppy Pawtograph

Sherman At Holmhaven

Essex and Sherman Shortly After Leaving Holmhaven

Sherman and Gemini Leaving Holmhaven

Sherman and Gemini Playing In Their Yard

Later Deacon came to live with them and crossed the rainbow bridge far too soon.  Sherman came to fill the hole in Dad’s heart after that crossing.  Little Gemini took her time arriving after Essex’s crossed.  It was worth the wait.  Essex and Deacon definitely left there are paw prints in Dad’s heart.  Sherman and Gemini are putting paw prints there too.  God bless the collies.  Dad thanks them for adopting him and knows they made him a better hooman. 

February 2008 - Essex and Deacon Paw Prints in the Snow

Dog Speed
 

Sherman, Gemini and Dog Dad