This was my beautiful case.
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You sometimes hear about some old fashioned farmers that don't desex their working bitches, let them get pregnant, and then destroy the pups. Casey was from one of those litters. My sister was visiting that farm on the day Casey was born and rescued 2 puppies that weren't destined to live out their first day. Unfortunately the pup that she was most attached to died at 1 week old and "the other one" was offered to me because I had admired her.

Case was my first baby. Bottles, night feeding, bottom wiping, the whole baby deal.

Case grew into a bit of a handful. So lively and intelligent and so loving. She loved running just for the sake of running.

When Case was about a year old we joined the local dog club where we did some obedience. The whole club was into trialling but I wasn't so I became disinterested in that. At the same time our club had a couple of flyball teams and we loved that. We competed in Canberra and the Sydney Royal a couple of times. Case was one of the most recognisable (and vocal) flyball dogs around at the time.

Flyball sort of fizzled out with our club so that was the end of that. But we still used to travel around together, usually visiting my sister in Sydney.

Eventually, along came a husband and then kids. Case didn't mind sharing me. She just saw then as extra sources of pats. She trained the kids young to love her. She used to sit with them when I had them outside as babies, either on a mat or in the rocker, and mind them. Now we will all miss her.
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what a sweety, I bet you miss her!

They leave such a hole when they leave us, but they also leave the best memories.

We all know how much you miss Casey, we have all been where you are and best of all, we all know how much she loved you and you loved her.

Thanks for the sympathies. I just felt I should tell her story somewhere. We do miss her heaps but it's time to move forward. The new puppy will arrive in about 5 weeks time. Not to take Casey's place but to start a new adventure. My boys are young and it will be wonderful to add a puppy to their lives (not to mention mine).

You must have loved her heaps and miss her a whole lot more.

Loved Dogs
The special ones leave paw prints on our hearts for sure,
They teach us how to love and laugh more,
Enjoy the simple pleasures in life more,
To stretch out in the sun and enjoy the rays,
To run with abandon because it is exhilerating,
To give out kisses as it makes others feel good,
Our place in the world is as it should,
To be by your side with love.

© Natasha Duke

Okay Sharongmur I just did that up for you hope you like it and you have my permission if you wish to copy it.

She looked lovely, your Casey. Such lovely blue eyes. I think I can understand how difficult it must have been to lose her. Especially when you've hand-raised them, I think that really enhances the bond.

Thank you sharongmur for sharing Casey's pics and putting Casey's story down in words. I'm sure there is lots more you could've said but I bet it was hard enough to write those words. Sometimes I think the love of a dog and the love for a dog allows us to be better humans and lets us love life and people a whole lot more than without them. A new puppy will bring so much new excitement for your family! Have you got any pics yet from the breeder.

Ceejay when I read the first line of your poem I saw a tattoo in my mind of a heart (in red) with paw prints going across it! How about getting one like that???? LOL

Thankyou so much for the poem Ceejay. I think I'll print it out and keep it with Casey's photo. Oh and just stick to the paw prints.

Yes, Bluedog, there is a lot more I could have written and there are plenty of stories I could tell about Casey but I'll save them for another time. The breeder of the new puppy has sent me plenty of photos but I really should ask her permission to post them. I'll get around to it soon.

Hi Sharongmur
I would love to hear more stories of Casey if you get the urge sometime, you know we all understand and some of us have already walked that road, there is no better place to to tell them. If it helps we would be happy to dedicate a page to Casey on the club website where you could add stories as they come to mind. Even add stories of the new baby to complete the picture. This will help others that have lost their beloved koolie to know others understand what they have experienced and know that the future is bright. Anyone who has a special koolie story to tell is welcome to do the same thing.

That's OK silhouette. Time is a factor with me. I have 3 kids (boys) under 5. Reading and short replies are one thing but as soon as I try to type anything lengthy something happens that needs my attention. I have to say it's been great therapy reading all the stories and looking at all the pictures on this forum. And I found the new puppy through the forum as well.

Ha, see what I mean - the baby's awake now!