The Last of her Litter

Some of you got to meet my GypsyRose..many of you didn't. I was not a member when Gyp was this side of the bridge.
Lianne you were the instructor who showed Maria how to train Beau, Gypsy's big sable son. Beau then in went on to trial at the WDOC..and managed a high aggregate score in trial along with highest score by a conformation champion, highest scoring herding dog, and three high in classes awards over the four trials.
Well on August 19 at exactly (to the day) 12 years 5 months, Ch.Kerhaven's Mr Bojangles CD, CGN 'danced' over the bridge taking a big chunk of Maria's heart and mine with him. Only not quite 2 months earlier..his tri brother Vinnie, the only other male in that litter had also crossed the bridge. Starting this year off Sierra, Ch. Kerhaven's Touched by an Angel had crossed over just before her twelfth birthday followed by her beautiful sire Ch. Valiant Leonine Star in April . Zoey and Vienna had crossed over (zoey hit by a car as a pup) Vienna (Ch. Kerhaven TheRose of Warquablen) with a large inoperable growth (benign) on the side of her mouth making it impossible to eat anymore without alot of bleeding, had both crossed some years earlier.
Now we are down to one offspring...Ch. Kerhaven Seasons In The Sun HIC aka Venus. Venus will be 13 March 19th 2011. She is the loved companion of Terry-Lynn Nugent and her daughters Brook and Katie.
Venus lives on a farm near Vanscoy Sk.
Venus has had quite a life on the farm. she has proven an invaluable asset over the years..as a chum and guardian/playmate for Terry's lovely daughters then aged 4 and 2.  She saved Terry's husband from being gored by an angry cow whose calf he was tagging. The cow charged, he ran, tripped and if Venus hadn't intervened he would have been badly hurt. But Venus, only 14 months old herself..never trained as a working farm dog, only having belonged to them for three months, instinctively 'knew' what to do. Charging between him and the cow she launched her slim body at the head of the animal causing it to veer to the side missing, barely the fallen man. Then Venus proceeded to keep the animal at bay while Terry's husband scrambled to safety.  After that the sun rose and set on her little tri back as far as Terry and her hubby were concerned.
When the girls reached school age, Venus would escort them down the long driveway to board the school bus. After school Venus would always be sitting waiting for the girls at the end of the driveway.
When Venus was about three, she caught and killed a fox that was trying to raid the chicken coop. During the brief death fight, Venus was bitten on her leg, thus she had to be quaranteened until the provincial lab was able to examine the fox head and deem it free of rabies.  That was a TENSE few days for the folks who loved her. Despite having current rabies vaccine..a bite from a rabid animal usually winds up with the injured dog being put down anyway for safety. Venus produced four litters  but none of the pups were sold to show homes..going instead as companions and/or fam dogs. One of her pups distinguished himself by saving his owners two year old child after the tot fell in the creek.
Gypsy made a fine litter..as wise and loyal and talented as she was. I lost my loved old friend in 2007 due to an accident. Gypsy died Dec. 31, 2007 just 63 days short of her 12 birthday.
Now all that is left is Venus...she is still doing well. Her appetite is good, she still chases any winged or four footed trespassers that dare to set foot on HER territory. She loves to hunt gophers but still has not caught one:>) Healthy though she is, her times is growing short. Collies live on AVERAGE, 12-14 years..some a bit longer..most if they are healthy and well cared for will reach at least 12.
I just wanted to talk a bit about these collies who have so won my heart. The BEST of them being my own Kerhaven Sunnybank Silhouette HIC, CGN, ROM..my own sweet GypsyRose, my CAN-DO girl..who I shall never stop missing. I will try to add a pic to this blog of Venus..taken just a few days ago, if I can figure it out. Thank those of you who take the time to read of my old friends final offspring.

Darlene