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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

AN IDEAL HOMESTEAD DOG: Benny: 4/30/96-7/30/09
Benny is now in the ground, next to his buddy, Dax, up under the  
dogwood trees by the old log barn. He was an ideal homestead dog, from  
parents who were working dogs on a ranch of cattle and sheep. We never  
allowed him to fulfill his potential as we do not raise large  
livestock. He did keep an eye on the chickens, though, as well as us  
and the garden and the full clearing. In all ways he performed as a  
competent and trusted homestead worker.
We were directed to find him in a barn; his mother had chosen a horse  
stall and he was infested with ticks and fleas and filthy with manure.  
He was the runt of his litter but we selected him because of his  
energy and his promise of great beauty. A classic blue merle  
Australian Shepherd, with one blue and one brown eye, he fulfilled his  
promise as a joy to the eye.
He required little training. Beyond normal obedience instruction about  
all he got was observation of his master walking and peeing along the  
perimeter of the homestead clearing, denoting the area to protect.  
Protect it he did.
He never took a sick day in his thirteen years and three months. What  
finally brought him down were hips that could only with great effort  
get him up to a standing position.
He pleased us in myriad ways. It was a special delight upon retuning  
from town trips to see the blue merle of happiness bouncing out to  
greet us.
And the beat goes on.