GOODBYE TO RYE….

Just a couple months shy of 13, RYE’s body weakened to a state of more pain than he could manage. His true strength to be a dynamic, athletic Border Collie was waning. A few steps for the ball and then laying down was all he could easily do. And, no matter the increase in pain medications, he was grouchier than ever with the pack members he had lived with for so many, many years.

It was time. To understand this life, is to see pictures of the younger RYE who landed at GHF at 10 months old. A severely injured front leg only became an impediment in his senior years. Otherwise, he was like a missile with anything and everything he wanted to do whether it was trail walks or swimming or endless ball play…he was a life force going full-tilt ALL the time.

While we know he would have pushed beyond this compromised state to attempt to catch a ball or charge a dog out of the way, it was no fun and his expressions were hard to witness. Rye was not Rye. With great love and kindness, Rye laid in Lillie’s lap as the era ended…12 long years of joy for a car chasing, man-hating, king of the hill type of guy who bossed dogs around just cause he could…what a journey we had together.

Godspeed RYE…sometimes the hardest characters to live with
are the ones that take the biggest part of your heart.

You did good Rye… the best you could.