Desi

I lived in Ruston, LA, in a little apartment by myself, as all of my friends were graduating before me. I had decided, at the very end of my elementary education degree, that I wanted to teach English. So, I changed my major and took 13 English classes in one year. It was a whirlwind.

My little duplex on Sybil Drive.

I was so lonely, though. Scott and I had just gotten engaged in June of 1999, and he was living in Tulsa, so many hours away. My mama suggested that I get a dog. I wasn’t sure about it, but the thought of having a furry, sweet companion in my apartment just made me so happy.

I decided to go to the pound in Ruston, but I had not thought that I would be leaving with a dog that day. As fate would have it, I really had no other choice. Just 3 days before I decided that a puppy was what I needed, I had seen a medium sized border collie mix in my tiny yard. I approached the dog, slowly, and she was so friendly. I went in to get some water for her, but when I came out, she had run away.

Well, lo and behold, sitting so sweetly in her jail cell at the pound, was my meant-to-be pet.

I left that day at the pound with that border collie, and I named her Desi dog.

This is the day I got her. She had been spay and was so sore and scared.

Desi 1999

I truly did not know what I was getting myself into. She was absolutely wild! Loveable, but just out of control- my house torn apart WILD!

But, we adjusted. I had no idea what kind of energy her breed had at the time I adopted her. So, lots of walking and running was on her agenda every day, rain or shine.

She was my best bud. She loved to help me take clothes out of baskets or the dryer, and she would run off with them to make her a sleeping pile. I would fuss at her, and then I’d give in, and let her keep her pile, even though I’d have to rewash later. I taught her how to crate train, how to behavior train, how to love and how to calm. I taught her that couch cushions and hair dryer cords were no no’s! But, truthfully, she gave me and taught me so much more.

If I could use one word to describe Desi, it would be unconditional- in all ways. The way she loved, the way she played, the way she comforted, and the way she protected.

Six years passed, and Desi developed a sort of neurosis about herding. Of course, this was her nature by breed, but she was herding Scott’s dog, Lucy, and poor Lucy was miserable. I was working day and night in my first years as a teacher, and Scott was commuting to and from work. We weren’t, and couldn’t, exercise her as much as she needed, and no type of training helped. I felt terrible for Lucy, bad for Desi, and I was pregnant with Maggie. Desi would cause me to trip, and Scott and I had to make an awfully hard decision about her future with us. Some people may fault us for this, but I do not regret it for one second. We knew a wonderful person who was going through a very lonely time in her life, and we decided to let Desi try it at her house for a few days. I cried and cried. It was the hardest thing refraining from jumping in my car and changing my mind. But, Tracey was exactly what Desi needed. She exercised her, loved her, spoiled her, canoed with her- just the perfect life for a border collie. She had the time Desi needed. It was so hard to tell her goodbye, but over the last 10 years, I have gotten pictures, updates, and phone calls with funny Desi stories.

Tracey has taken the best care of sweet Desi. They were meant to be.

Most recent pic of Desi 1/29/15

This is Blakely, Tracey’s granddaughter, and Desi going for a walk a month ago.

I rescued Desi, and she rescued me in my first days of depression. She also rescued Tracey during such a tough time. She was extremely giving and loyal.

Tracey called this evening and told me that our Desi died, suddenly, at 17 years old. She was not ill, was in good spirits until her death, and she died peacefully. I have cried an ocean of tears tonight, but I am thankful for the wonderful story of Desi, and the blessing she has been to each person she touched with her precious doggie life.

I’m going to miss you, Desi dog.