While I typically write the condolences posts for our TOESR dogs as they leave us, I find it particularly hard to create the same for one of my own dogs. Pickles (nee Pixie) came to TOESR as the result of a reluctant owner release. Having recently lost one of my own sheepdogs, I volunteered to foster the middle-aged female known as Pixie. After an initial transitionary period, I changed her name to Pickles, a name I thought definitely suited her feisty, 'take charge' attitude. She charmed my two male sheepdogs and she charmed me with her sometimes quirky but always hilarious antics. Case in point was having her appropriate a pair of my pink dumbbells as her favorite 'toy'. Pickles could be sweet & maternal one minute and mouthy and tenacious the next. Over the next six years, she quickly became one of my pack of three dogs who were so connected to each other. She also became one of my most beloved dogs. In a word, I would describe her as 'joyous'. Seeing her nub wag with metronome accuracy was a sight to behold. The end of Pickles' story came all too quickly. One day she was fine, the next, refusing to eat. After a week of treatments to pinpoint the issue, Pickles' situation deteriorated and she was rushed to our local emergency clinic, then diagnosed with lymphoma of both the spleen and small intestine. Within 72 hours Pickles was gone. Today, I see her everywhere and I miss her but choose to see her joy in life rather than remember her last days. Rest in Peace my girl. You were a blessing and pure joy.