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You
might wonder, why does a collie, a dog that isn’t my own, have a page
on this Website? Because he was a very special dog, and he
deserves a tribute. I never met him in person, but I felt I knew
him through his owner (who doesn’t have a Website). Here are her
words:
The best
way to memorialize James Dean is to say that he was an unforgettable
character with a ton of personality. He was a big and beautiful
Alpha male of a collie, who loved life, every minute of it. But
tragically, gastric torsion struck him at just past his 3rd
birthday, and ended his life far too soon. In his short time on
earth, JD attracted many friends and admirers, and he will always live
in the memories of those who knew him.
James Dean
was intelligent, outgoing, mischievous, and a real ham. He was
shown by his breeder to his Canadian Championship as a youngster,
although it was later found that there was a miscount on the dogs, so he
was one point short of the title. JD loved the spotlight; maybe
too much, if you ask people at his first U.S. shows, where he loudly
“announced” his presence! He was a handful. You had to
earn his respect, and with his dominant nature, that wasn’t easy.
He was a tough boy—hence the call name of “James Dean” as a baby
—“Moving Picture” as his registered name actually came much later.
He was infamous at handling class for attempting to mug the bait pouches
of anyone near him, and for generally unruly behavior while being
gaited—prancing, barking, and nipping the person at the end of the
lead! Maddening, since he was a beautiful-moving dog with a lot of
power and grace, when he wanted to be! Thankfully, in time JD did
grant that respect to his handlers, and his last two shows saw him
channel his boundless energy into the intense focus of a professional
show dog and athlete. He gave his all that weekend, and did
everything that was asked of him. I was so proud! JD was a
very slow-maturing dog, some time yet away from his prime, but I knew
there would be many thrilling and fun days ahead. But Fate had
other plans, and three days after those shows, JD was suddenly,
unbelievably, gone forever.
I will
always treasure my memories of the exuberant big brown dog with the
pretty face and a great sense of humor, the dog I told a zillion stories
about to anyone who would listen. JD was a true collie, and a real
joy to own, because life with him was never boring! I deeply miss
the character who stole sandwiches without remorse, who cleverly
manipulated the mind of his less-bright dog kennelmate, and who loved to
rub against my legs while growling like a rabid grizzly bear. I
see in my mind’s eye the dog who loved to sit in his soft-sided crate
with his head sticking out the unzipped top, as he observed the others
at dog class or at shows—the King of all he surveyed. I thank
Cheryl for the opportunity to pay this tribute to a great collie that I
loved dearly. Thanks, James Dean, for being a rebel WITH a cause,
and I will never forget you.
Christie |
