A Full Life...

When Grant and I married, I had a German Shepherd named Jonathan. A few years later when she died, Grant insisted we get another dog. So, my little sister and I went to the dog pound and picked out a blonde shepherd mix that was already past her allowable time, she was due to be put down any day. After she was spayed, Grant and I brought her home. Grant chose her name...Shanachie (Shawn-uh-kee). "Shanachie" is a record label for Celtic music. Our vet said she was a couple of years old. She was a real handful the first few years we had her...problem digging and chewing, constant barking...so unlike her predecessor. Once we moved out to the country, though, she was in her element and all her earlier problem behaviors evaporated. She loved roaming the 40 acres of woods and was even happier once she had a side-kick, the pup, Gloria. She was an accomplished hunter...we never had moles in our yard or rodents of any sort around. She kept them cleared out. And, even though she was a friendly dog, still, she was a great watch dog, and always let us know when someone was coming. She knew the boundaries of the property and stayed on it. And, she always noticed when my father-in-law was going out to brush-hog or work out in the pasture and she would be right there, faithfully trailing him all day as he worked. She lived with us fourteen years. We lost her today. We miss her.