We found that nearly all sounds frightened her, the coffee perking, ice from the fridge , the dishwasher, we took her for a ride in the car until the warm weather came then she’d go out in the back yard so we could vacuum the floors. As time went on she did become accustom to the house sounds but if she was in the kitchen and you took a glass from the cupboard, she knew you were getting some of that dratted ice and rushed to her safe spot in the family room!

For the first while when something really upset her or if she became agitated, she would start doing a hurried walk around the coffee table, out to the eating area, around the table and back again. We would calm her down and slowly that and her bouts of fright lessened. Even then at times when she would be out in the back yard, very much enjoying her yard and freedom, she would hear a car or a sound in the distance and dash back to the house for safety.                                                          

In the beginning Honey had a difficult time going up and down stairs, particularly going down. We found that many obstacles she encountered were because her muscles and coordination had never been developed. She was so smart and as time passed and with a regular healthy diet and exercise, there were not too many things she could not do.

Such a smart young lady, it didn’t take her very long to realize that Jim had fallen hook, line and sinker for her! When he came home from work at night, her ever alert ears would hear the garage door open, she would jump, dash to the top of the stairs, hear him open the door to the house then dash back to her bed. When Jim came up the stairs he would go down on one knee and say “hi precious, come see me”, she would jump up and almost fall over herself to get to him, and then lean her head into his chest  for some loving!  Smart female!

When I came home I would open the house door and Honey would stand at the top of the stairs and bark and talk to me which I would do in return (outsiders would wonder) and to this day I’m not sure if she was happy to see me or if she was bawling me out!

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We took Honey for her walks in the forest behind our house. Often we would meet a friend with her two very energetic lovely dogs to accompany us. It was funny to see, Honey was not too pleased with the usual “dog greeting” from her dog friends but latter on during the walk, she would “dog greet” them, on the sly of course. It was so nice to walk and visit, very quiet and peaceful, and so good for her to socialize with other dogs. I am not to sure if she liked it as much as I did however, as one time when I picked up her harness and said, “time for our walk, Honey”, she whimpered and ran into the other room! I wonder if she didn’t just feel so good and safe in her spot that she would have preferred to stay there instead of going to the big outdoors.

She made such progress. Looking out the patio doors one day; she started barking at our neighbor who was working in his front lawn. There was a time when she would have seen him and ran to her “safe spot”, her bed.                                                           

She was very interested and curious in what was going on around her or who came into the house. She checked everyone and everything out, smelling them or it; passing inspection she would then return to her “safe spot”.

Honey loved the night; she did eat some during the day, but did most of her eating and playing after we went to bed. Our sofa had cushions that lifted up and she would flip them up with her head, roll around on the sofa and every morning there would be loads of her long hair where she had been playing. She hadn’t much experience playing with toys but sometimes they would be in a different area so that too was becoming part of her fun time!

Fortunately for us, our daughter Barb was able to move into our home when ever we went away to stay with Honey so she did not have to go to a kennel. Barb knew Honey loved the freedom of the dark and quiet the night gave her, so she would wrap herself in a blanket and read on the back deck for hours so Honey could explore or just lay under her favorite tree.

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There are so many things about Honey that I could tell you. She was very curious, smart, trusting of us, full of love. The trust and love took a while, we three worked on that and over time it happened. Our wish for her was for her to feel safe, free and to know that we loved her and that this was her home forever and that nothing would ever hurt her.

February 22, 2007. We heard a noise, a sound very early in the morning and found Honey in great distress. We rushed her to the Vet hospital. She left us that morning.

My friend Diane had told me of Okanagan Collie Rescue and introduced me to Janet Lamont, founder and President of OCR. Janet was so instrumental in bringing Honey, Jim and myself together. Somehow it is fitting that our beloved Honey is buried on Diane’s acreage.

There were so many people who helped Honey before she came to live with us. A few of the people who we have heard of are: Cathy, Tracy, Maria, PK, Karen, Todd and I know that there were many others.

Jim and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

We miss her so much, she will be forever in our hearts and all the memories that we have of her will never leave us.