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["Lynda" <lurine AT com-pair.net>]

Tuff-Enuf Mugwump and Hurricane Cali, although not ideal homestead dogs, 
wish Benny a quick trip over the Rainbow Bridge to get to his buddy Dax.

Lynda, who was owned by a blue merle bitch, Maggie Mae (bet you can guess 
when we were owned by her <g>), and her daughter, Candy Bear (white factor, 
with one blue eye and one split eye).
The press corp is fact-adverse but very fable friendly.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "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.