Zephyr

(2009- January 18th 2024)

Zephyr came into our family after she had been picked up from the side of a Manitoba highway. Too weak to walk, (a later x-ray showed that the only content in her stomach was a coin), she had to be carried everywhere. She badly needed grooming and while her body showed obvious signs of recent birth, this was mid-winter and no puppies were found. For the whole of her 14 years with us we saw nervousness in certain situations, possibly because, due to pregnancy, she had been abandoned and was thus fearful that she might be abandoned again. Upon being brought into Winnipeg, Hull's Haven Border Collie Rescue stepped up and asked us to help secure her future.

Fostered by us she was finally adopted into another family, but this was obviously not part of her plans. Escaping this new home over a fence and totally lacking any form of identification, she wandered the streets of Winnipeg until she was seen by our daughter, who collared her with her scarf and took her to her own home. What are the chances that one of the very few people who would recognize Zephyr, was trusted to approach her, and wished to help her, happened to make a change of plans that day....which change had allowed this meeting to happen? Fate had intervened, Zephyr was destined to return to us and would never be homeless, unwanted or unloved again.

o we adopted her into our own family and took her into our home where she became a permanent and much-loved and valued member. She never showed any signs of desire to wander again...she had found her place and was content to be “at home”. Although we fostered numerous other dogs and puppies after adopting her she never showed any signs of aggression or resentment towards them. In fact she acted as “Mum” and played and rested with the puppies.

As her senior years approached she was diagnosed with arthritis in her hind quarters. (Was this an inheritance of when she had been abandoned on the streets in mid-winter?) With no cure available we could only try to alleviate the symptoms with medications. A few weeks ago she also appeared to have suffered some sort of neurological problem which, combined with the arthritis, made her unsteady while walking. Her balance, especially while walking on a slippery surface was affected and and her back legs would collapse beneath her. We knew then that, despite medications, she was in discomfort and that her time was drawing near.

At almost exactly noon on Thursday January 18th we were forced to make this terrible decision and with the patient and gentle help of Sunset Veterinary Care we said “Goodbye” to our beautiful, gentle and loyal girl.

She crossed over the Rainbow Bridge gently and very peacefully and our hearts went with her.

R.I.P. sweet Zephyr, thank you for spending your life with us. We miss you more than words can say.

Until we meet again. <3