Friday, I took Dottie to the vet as she couldn’t get up when my sister Joan and I came back about 3 p.m. from running around. We took her to the vet, who, from my description of her actions the last 2-3 weeks, thought that she had had some stroke(s) before Friday. The shot that the vet didn’t help. She was worse by the a.m. , so we took her in on Saturday a.m. The vet confirmed my observation that Dottie’s condition had worsened. She peacefully passed over.
I want to thank my very long-time friend, Karen Clymer, and for my friend/trainer Dawna Sims for helping me to appreciate the “soft dog” in herding. With a mom like Pepsi and a son like Zack, Dottie walked in the shadows too much.
Dottie’s kindness and gentleness will remain with me always.
P.S. Attached is my all-time favorite photo of Dottie (taken by Brad Lee at Westworld); I believe this photo more than any other photo I have of her, captures the gentleness of her spirit. The other 2 photos were of a “fun trial” at Karen Clymer’s, which Dottie won; Dottie stood her ground more than in any other trial she had been in and got the sheep in the trailer and then in a crate of cattle panels.
