~ Ailea's Foundation ~
~ Willows Shadow Dresed In Blu ~
~ "Rookie" ~
October 31, 1991 - August 15, 2006
Rookie (Ch Shadow Hills Silver Breeze x Jen-Ver's
Shadow Of Darkness), a 14" bi-blue beauty, was the second sheltie bred at Ailea. Sound, sweet,
and with a disposition that simply could not be compared, Rookie's was a health,
structure and temperament to be desired and meticulously maintained. Rookie
proved herself a bulwark of considerable strength against which Ailea rests yet
today, now going on five generations removed.
Though my early
years as a breeder utilized different pedigrees and bitches, it
is Rookie who now bears the honor of being my foundation bitch, and what a
foundation she provided!
Pictured at left is Rookie, as we knew her practically since the day she came to Ailea's Place to stay - playing with puppies, ANY puppies. Here she is playing with three of Taylor's puppies in the spring of 1998, when Rookie was but 7 years of age. Until the day she left her home at Ailea's Place to travel to the Rainbow Bridge, she nannied every puppy to come in our doors, including her great-great grandson, Quinn, and her great-great-great grandson, Cole!
Many times I have been asked, "Where in the world did a name like "Rookie" come from?" And so I tell the story as it was told me: Rookie was first a sheltie with a collie breeder who was also a highway patrol cadet. I suppose it seemed appropriate at the time to give the handle "rookie" to this little blue girl. Given that her early beginning was as a collie chew toy, it is a huge credit to Rookie she remained throughout her life such the diamond in our crown.
Rookie ruled the house with a simple gesture of her paw and a look of smugness (and sometimes contempt) we got nowhere else. She excelled in temperament, health, structure and balance, with a good front which has shone through in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren alike. With beautiful planes, outline and poise, she was always a very much loved and welcomed member of our family. We held and love her as long as she lived, and will continue to love and miss her - unbearably, immeasurably - until our own last days.
She grew from a vibrant, vivacious, energized youngster into an elegant senior, and to her final days was the absolute epitome of what a sheltie bitch should be. It is with Rookie in my mind I judge every sheltie I meet. Her fifteen years were long and well-lived, but far too short for me.
God bless... God rest... God speed - My beautiful Queen-
A Sheltie Good Morning
When I awake
each morning she is there
Her warm tongue, satiny smooth,
strokes my cheek in daybreak greeting,
the happiest 'hello' I will ever receive.
Her paws rest
upon my chest in quiet patience,
her eyes already a-gleam with mischief,
her tail twitching like a cat's.
The moment I
stir she bounds from the bed and dances,
laughing wildly at my morning cobwebs,
and she chases me through the house and to the door,
a madcap race.
The door I open
for her happy body
and she bounds through the gap,
racing down the steps to pause and glance back.
She speaks to
me once,
an invitation to join her in her frolic on the wet grass,
and then she is gone in a dash,
exploring the secrets of the early morning garden.
By: Amy C Butcher,
Ailea's Place
Copyright 1996, all rights reserved.
Written in honor of our Rookie,
Willows Shadow Dresed In Blu
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Please feel free to e-mail Amy with any questions or comments
