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01/06/2010, 4:17 PM Janet East Joined on 02/12/2008 Posts 19 This time I really have lost my collie Jilly This time I really have lost my old collie Jilly     About half an hour ago, I had my old collie Jilly put down.  Yes, I am grieving and as a tribute to her, I am writing this through tear-filled eyes, so there are probably going to be loads of  typos as I can’t exactly see what I am writing.  We have just had a new dog room built out the back and she is the first one to sleep there - all wrapped up in one of my best blankets – at peace.  The new dog room was essential as I can’t face another winter of my kitchen smelling like a dog run. Also, we aren’t allowed dogs in the kitchen when we’re cooking breakfast for the guests – what a load of poppycock. Cats yes – Pilchard is allowed in even though he has been ratting all night and sits on the work surface licking his backside for ever!!  I’ll get an inspection next week no doubt! It’s funny, but you know when the time is right and so does the dog.   Yesterday Jilly ran, as always, around the farm as I checked the stock – yes, at a slow rate, but she never failed to complete the course. She had got hard of hearing and slightly blind, but when I trained her all those years ago, I trained her to the whistle and until even half an hour ago, she would respond to the whistle. But this morning, she just couldn’t manage and it was if she went, “Mum, I’m ready to go and lay down with the rest in the orchard”.  I had to grant her this last wish. Anne the vet came out, as I didn’t want to put her through an unnecessary journey to the vets, even though she loved the car. As Anne came down into the kitchen, Jill got up very unsteadily and wagged her tail – that is my last lovely memory of her. You may say I am weak, but I couldn’t stay with her to the end – Anne understood.  She did what she had to do and I did what I had to do – just go away and remember what an unbelievable servant she had been to me. Fifteen years of total admiration for each other. Total trust! Total love!   Tomorrow is a new day and with Jilly’s daughter, Tinker, and her two sons, Todd and Kit, there will just be the three of us checking the stock instead of four.    Report

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