Miz

01/09/1993 – 02/01/2010

Miz came to me from a farm in Harworth, Notts at the age of 12 months. I’d gone there looking for a classically marked black and white dog puppy and came away with her, a 12 month old red and white bitch! I thought she was the most beautiful and, at that time unusual colour collie I’d ever seen, and instantly fell in love. She was too affectionate to be any use as a working dog and preferred to spend her time with the farmer and not the sheep, hence his desperation to pass her on to a family who would return all the love she had to give. Miz liked to keep herself busy, following me up and down the stairs collecting any dropped socks from the washing pile and taking them to the kitchen for me, or bringing me any bits off the floor, tidying up after myself and my two children. Her favourite job was gardening, patiently waiting behind me for me to pass her the weeds which she would take from me and place further down the garden in a neat pile, before returning to wait for more. In 1999, I felt it was time to expand my doggy family and wanted another dog to keep her company, but where would I get one with the same temperament as her? Easy…. from her! So she had a litter of 5 gorgeous puppies in July of that year, and I kept her son Logan. Miz’s need for keeping busy lead me to search for a hobby for her, and that’s how I came to do Flyball. Despite much training, she didn’t take to it well and preferred to find a ball from a bucket, or stop at the last jump on her return and throw the ball back at me! Miz made her debut in starters at Carlton Towers at the grand old age of 12, and needless to say retired the very same day!! Miz didn’t show her age at all and at her annual vet checks was reported to have the heart of a 5 year old! Even her last checkup at the age of 15 years and 10 months the vet said she was in great shape and her heart was as strong as an ox. But Miz aged quickly after that and just before Christmas 2009 she began to falter on her feet, her sparkle gradually faded and she became old. Then, on new years eve Miz laid in her bed and never got up again. her body had given up. We’d hoped it was a temporary thing and helped keep her clean and warm. Late on new years day Miz looked at me with distant eyes and I knew that I had to let my friend go. She was ready to go to Rainbow Bridge………. She was 16 years and 5 months old. There is a hole in my heart where my Miz should be.

Joanna Hope