Alley

March 1st
I was away at winter camp with the kids. Alley wasn't feeling well (throwing up, trouble getting up) when I left so Annie brought her into work with her for x-rays and blood tests. They opened her and found cancer so they put her down right on the operating table. She was healthy right up to the end and Annie and I were both surprised that she fell ill so quickly-literally over night.
She was my first official dog. I got her as a puppy in 1999 and she's been with me through some of the worst times in my life (major break-up, a few really awful teaching assignments) and some of the best times (buying my farm, meeting Annie, Emma being born). She liked riding in the truck, swimming in the river, and going with us to work in the bush. I loved her a lot. I was sad that I wasn't with her at the end, but I was happy that Annie was there. Annie told me that Emma was sitting beside her on the exam room floor; Emma was colouring and Alley was really calm and comforted by Emma being with her. Emma liked giving her "bon-bons" (dog treats) and "Alley" was one of Emma's first words. I'm writing this in April and Emma still goes to the back room and calls for Alley. The other day she said "Alley, booboo, ventre, bye bye". I guess she finally understands.

Highlights of Alley's life:
- Eating an entire deer over the course of one winter that I'd brought home as "roadkill delight".
- Getting her own dog in 2003.
- Jumping out of my truck cab while doing 60km/hour to attack a neighbour's dog.
- Moving to the farm and having her own private pond and river for swimming.