She loved all the family, she was very protective.
My best memories of her, was when she had her litter of puppies.
I had built her a lovely warm place to have her babies ... with doonas and a private box 1mx1m for privacy for her.
At the time of the birth ..... I was sitting on the outer edge of the welping box ... not wanting to intrude ... but wanting to be close enough to help ...... it was beautiful an experience that was much like the experience of having your own children.
As I sat in wonder and watched her deliver and clean the first arrival she heaved and number two arrived .... she looked up at me with the most beautiful look and with her dark nose pushed the first born towards me ... she then reached up and pulled me into the welping box to sit near the puppies... I could hardly believe the next thing she did ..... she pushed the first born puppy over to my hands ... as if to say here hold her and keep her safe ...... while I deliver the next. I did just that, after each puppy was cleaned and after the initial suck .... they were pushed over to me until the ninth and final puppy arrived.
She was the best mum in the world .... so gentle, so sharing and so trusting to our family ........ I shall never forget those nights with her spent cuddles up Mum, babies, and me .... and who ever from the imediate family ... who wanted to join us in the 1 metre square box.........
Kelly was healthy and well and was just beginning to slow down in her 13th year of life ...... she still liked her daily walk but had become a lot slower and not so agile.

I cant talk about what happened before she passed away .... it is very painful for me. But she suddenly developed a heavy bleed from her uterus ...... an overnight drip and an emergency operation all in a matter of 24 hours .... and of course all in the weekend.
I gave her a kiss on her head, spent the last hour before her operation telling her that I would be right here waiting for her... her eyes gave me a look I will never forget .... and the vet put her under the anesthetic ........... I waited for the news when i could pick her up to take her home .... but to my horror and complete disbelief the vet rang me in tears to say our beloved family member had not pulled through the operation ..... she had died peacefully while under........

To say my heart was broken is an understatement,
Kelly left a piece missing from my heart.
She was beautiful,
She heard all my inner most thoughts,
She was there with a unconditional love,
She was my companion, my soul mate,
She now rests in a special place in our garden,
Along side my husbands little mate who died
two years later.
I talk to her everytime I go out to the garden,
Her photo is in my lounge, But I dont need to look at it because she is always with me ........
No one will ever replace what she gave to me,
Friendship, loyalty, love and companionship and those gentle gentle
loving ways that only we could share ........

I love you Kelly, I always will and not a day goes by when I dont see an image of you curled up waiting for me to take you for our walk.