Where do I begin to tell you about a dog so special that there are not enough words to do her justice?
Lacy was the only surviving puppy from a litter of 6. (Ch. Nebriowa Front and Center - Ch. Taflar's Redd Trixie). She was bottle raised as a singleton. She from the beginning was very special and seemed to not know she was a dog. We were all just one big happy pack, or so she thought. She was 8 weeks old before her mother (Trixie) would allow any other dog near her. Then Merlin was allowed to play with her. Merlin and Lacy became best buddies for life.
I took her to puppy kindergarten, which she just loved, and she was not the least bit overwhelmed during playtime with bigger puppies. I then took her on to basic obedience in an effort to have ongoing "how to be a dog" lessons. At four weeks into the class I was ready to give up. I complained to the instructor that she wasn't learning anything and I was ready to quit. Well, wouldn't you just know - that night she did every thing in class darn near perfect. We finished the class and yes, she learned some basic obedience.
Lacy was, and I'm sure still is, a very independent girl. She likes things her way and on her schedule (Hmmmm, somewhat like her owner, maybe?) Jim once asked why she'd listen to me and not to him. I pointed out that she knew who the alpha b*tch was....and it wasn't him. ;) The reality is that I was the one that worked with her to show her that I was the boss and in charge. We understood each other and had a terrific bond. Even then there were days that she did things her own way. And yes, several times those days were IN the show ring.
Lacy had many fans. I received many gracious compliments on her from other breeders. Breeder judges liked her, movement judges loved her, the rest didn't know what to do with her. She was the best dog I've ever bred and I was always proud to show her. Lacy had 14 points, 5 BOB wins and two Group Fourth placements, all over champions. However, she never got her majors due to serious financial problems when she was in her prime (at about age 4). We could not get her out to the shows where there were majors, and of course that sure wasn't Utah. I did bring her back out after her puppies, but by then her time had passed. I stubbornly continued to try much longer than most people thought was sane....but at age 10 she could still outmove other corgis in the classes, and we were still getting compliments on her from other breeders. It was at one such show in Montana when I realized that she was not going to finish. This realization hit me so hard that I picked her up and carried her back to our setup and sat and held her and just cried. She was so nice, so close to the standard, still had the movement, and she deserved to be a champion. Well, in my heart she was and still is. I moved her to the Veterans class and showed her anyway, just because I wanted to. She took her last BOB win at the age of 11, and yes, once again, over other champions.
Lacy was a fighter from the start. She fought to live and we made it through that battle. She got pyometra and was treated for that. She had a litter of puppies and it was her son that was the first dog I finished from the Bred by Exhibitor class. At age 7 she was diagnosed with auto immune Hemolytic Anemia. I was so afraid I was going to lose her then, but once again she fought and pulled through. With the help of a wonderful vet we were able to manage the AIHA for 6 1/2 years.
Last fall I decided that Lacy was going to get a title. We started training for Rally. In January we went to classes. In April, at the age of 13 1/2 years old, Lacy obtained her RN title, and in her own way. She had fun and we made up a few new commands in the ring once she figured out there were NO cookies in my pocket. We didn't have the highest scores every day, but we qualified and had fun -- and that was the most important part!!
Lacy was one that NEVER shared food. At shows she thought every other dog should stay at least 5 feet away from me because HER cookies were in my pocket and heaven forbid they should even THINK about having one. So when she decided this December to become a picky eater, I knew there was something seriously wrong. When I was having to find special canned food and certain people foods to tempt her with, I knew I had limited time with her. She was under vetrinary care and had decided she would not take her meds either, no matter how I tried to disguise them. Even just putting the liquids down her throat made her throw up, so I listened to her and gave up on that.
I would take her outside and on the way back she'd like to wander around the yard some, and sometimes walk in the snow. As she was doing this about a week before she died, I was talking to her and I asked, "What am I going to do with you?". I got the distinct message that she didn't want any more help.
The day before Lacy passed on I talked to an animal communicator. I was told that Lacy was not in pain, but only a little achy. She wanted to die at home if at all possible. It wasn't that she didn't want to eat, but that everything tasted metallic. She did not want me to leave her and she wanted to see her puppies (who were now 6 years old). She told me she was cold (and I told her then that her temp was down to 94 and she was under a warming throw. Her temp did come back up). She said she was in control of her death and would do it with grace.
We let her kids come see her one at a time. With each one she'd lift her head and look at them and sniff them. She looked for a few minutes at each one and would then put her head back down and have that corgi smile on her face. What she told them, I have no idea, but she definitely seemed glad to see them.
She would not eat that night, and I let her sleep where she wanted to, checking in several times during the night. The next morning, after she went out, she wanted to lie on the rug next to my bed. I put the heated throw over her and she took a nap, and I did too. When she woke up she was restless. Although she was never a real cuddle type dog, she wanted to be with me. I made her a bed on my bed and laid down with her. I held her in my arms for the next few hours and reassured her that she could go and I would be ok. Yes, I'd hurt, but I'd be ok. I wanted her to be well and not feel bad, and it was ok to go. She passed away in my arms, in her own time, on her terms, in her way. My tears dropped on her muzzle as her heart slowed and quit beating.
We traveled many miles together, and we showed in several states. She gathered her fans and I was flattered with the compliments on her. She was with me during the good times and there for me during the bad times. My heart is broken; I will forever love her and forever miss her.
Although it's now winter, this song, "Seasons in the Sun" by Terry Jacks, reminds me of Lacy:
Goodbye Lacy, my little one,
You gave me love and helped me find the sun
And every time that I was down
You would always come around
And get my feet back on the ground.
Goodbye my Lacy, it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the Spring is in the air
With the flowers everywhere
I wish that we could both be there.
We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun
But the stars we could reach
Were just starfish on the beach.
May you have seasons in the sun until we meet again.
Taflar's Legend in Lace RN - Aug. 23, 1995 - Dec. 15, 2009
Walk me back to Utah Corgis home!
