I'm on here with yet another sad tale because I can't sleep, can't get the images out of my head, and can't share them with the only two people in the house (my two sons who are even more devastated than I am). Thank heaven for the Internet, I just knew there'd be some sort of message board. I really just need to get this out.


Our beloved Border Collie, Kobe, just died VERY SUDDENLY 2 hours ago.

He had been a little lethargic last Tuesday, but my boys thought he got hurt chasing a ball, however, he didn't seem hurt anywhere. By Thanksgiving I was quite concerned but had a house full of people. On Friday we began giving him a homeopathic remedy (my boyfriend is a homeopath) and he was looking fantastic by Sunday, pretty much back to his bouncy self...following me everywhere, as usual! Monday morning we went to the vet and they took some blood, said he had a slight fever, but we went ahead and scheduled his teeth cleaning for tomorrow. Today around 3:00, I called about the blood work and they said he had a bit of an infection but they could still clean his teeth and they'd send us home with some antibiotic. Around 6:00 he seemed lethargic again so we started the remedy. By 8:30 he puked for the first time since this began last week. By 10:00 he was convulsing on the kitchen floor and a few minutes later he stopped breathing in the car despite mouth to snout from my son. The ER vet couldn't do anything for him.

Needless to say, we are all devestated. Kobe was such a wonderful friend.

We "rescued" him from the SPCA about 6 years ago. They thought he was about 2 y/o. We were looking for a smaller dog, but he looked at me with the saddest eyes and just melted my heart. When I knelt to pet him, he put his head on my shoulder and that was it. He was mine.

He was so well trained that we never had to do much with him. He never got into human food left out, never had an accident in the house, nothing. He was always so good. The only trouble we've ever had with him was a "nervous break down" after we left him in a kennel for a weekend....never did that again! And July 4th, 2004 he was alone for a few hours and freaked out over the fireworks, dug a hole in the backyard and got himself trapped between our fence and the neighbors. The fire dept. had to be called...and then he did it again a while later. The neighbors called me but I was over 100 miles away so it took a while to get home to him.

I'd grown up with toy poodles so I wasn't used to some of the 'herding' behaviors of Borders but I grew to love them and felt very protected. He loved nothing more than watching us. He was extremely devoted.

I just can't believe he's gone. What the hell happened to him? I feel like I've let him down.


It doesn't matter if anyone reads this or responds, I just needed to get it out. I can't believe that it happened. It feels like I'm having a bad dream....he's just a little sick and somehow I've dreamed that it is deadly.

If you've got a pet, show him/her some love in memory of a really great dog, Kobe.

I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved Border Collie, Kobe. I am sure you are in shock and searching for answers. I too lost a herding dog suddenly, two months ago, and the same questions that you are asking, I asked too. The best advice I received from someone went like this: "I know you were getting ready to have Bailey do more volunteer work, but 'she had other plans.'" And that is so true. We can do everything right, but in the end, it is not up to us. Your story of how Kobe came into your life is heartwarming. It takes someone special to adopt a shelter dog and grow to love it as much as you loved your Kobe. Herding dogs are special also..they like to herd everything, don't they?...chipmunks, squirrels, children, etc! After two months, I am beginning to understand that I am glad that Bailey did not have a long and agonizing death like some of the pets are enduring on this page. I pray that you will come to some kind of peace in your life as well. Please return here when you need to vent or just remember some of the things that made Kobe a sweet and unique animal. God bless.

Thank you. The 'herding everything' made me laugh. He would not let us hug in this household. He always wanted to break us up and move us along. I'm not sure, but in talking to a friend who'd always had Borders, she said they often do that. We sorta made him "get over it" by picking him up and making him a part of the group hug.

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I only managed a few horrible hours of sleep. I had several nightmares about what happened, only to awake this morning to no doggy outside my bedroom dog.

I'm grateful that I'm on vacation right now and don't have to try to teach while I'm this upset and exhausted.

I'm trying to think of a fitting memorial...I think I'd like to walk up the hillside behind our house today. He was my fair-weather hiking buddy and I know he's missed going since it's been so cold lately. I walked him there off-leash and he just LOVED it! He never explored too far away and would always come running with a whistle from me. There are a few spots with loose gravel on the steep hillside and he would come and walk right next to me. The first time, I thought he was being annonying, but after several times doing the same thing, I figured out that he knew how scared I was of falling so he came and walked right beside me.


I miss him so much already.

I am glad the "herding everything" comment made you smile, even if it was only briefly. I too was a school teacher (first year retired!) and could not imagine trying to work while the grief is so fresh. Your idea of taking a walk where you two used to go is a good one. Although unfortunately nothing can completely fill the hole in your heart, you will find ways to personally deal with the grief and eventually try to remember the good times. I always feel that you must go through all of the "firsts" after such a loss, before you can completely feel healed--first Christmas, first sunny spring day, first birthday, etc. Knowing that your best friend did not feel weeks and months of pain etc. can be a comfort. But nothing can take the place of knowing our furry friends are there to meet us when we come home at night. Take care, and come back and tell us more about Kobe when you feel up to it. I would imagine you must be a basketball fan! Anyway, remember others are thinking of you during this difficult time.