Lassie left us this week. She chose one day in Sept in 2016 to enter our lives. She was a Border Collie and Labrador mix. She was a smart dog and got along well with all. She was a true working dog, and work came before a meal. She required to be challenged and she wouldn't look happy when she didn't get her exercise or felt bored. Her eyes said so much!! The joke was that she made it her life job to walk my wife.

She was an alpha and didn't take a liking for some breeds. She didn't like the golden retrievers or the poodles. There were times she would jump over the 3+ foot fence to scare a golden retriever passing by. However, she never hurt a dog, but she wanted them to be aware of her presence.

I will miss hiking with her. We did so many hikes together that I wouldn't consider hiking without her until this year. When the kids were younger, I would have my son -- wasn't an enthusiastic hiker -- hold the leash and she would pull him up all the way. We did many of the local hikes including mailbox or Mount Si many times with her. One of the last hikes with lassie was Rattle Snake Ledge earlier this summer.

She became weaker over the summer and arthritis and old age started impacting her activity level. Later, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She was such a strong willed dog that some of the health issues went under the radar. In her last walk, she went around the neighborhood to the house with treats -- one of her standard stops during neighborhood walks. But she couldn't eat as the body didn't want it and she buried it.

As some one said, you help a dog in need of a home, and the dog in turn helps you grow. There are no words to express her loss. She was like one of us and it is truly sad that man's best friend has such a short life. I am grateful that she came along the journey. RIP Lassie!