Ailea's Place - Ailea Soley Remembered

Token (Emerald's Stocks And Bonds (13pts, 1 major) x Ailea Moonstone, 01/09/02), born of Onyx's first breeding, is litter sister to Emilu and Gracie and their brother, Jax. Token was placed with Karen of Denian Shelties when a young puppy, and stayed for a time with Karen where she was loved, spoiled rotten, trained, and delivered a puppy or two. Token returned to live at Ailea's Place in the early fall of 2004, and quickly made herself right at home, all over again. It was as though she had never left us as a wee girl of 12 weeks!

Pictured at right - one of my favorite photographs of Token - as a romping 9-month old puppy, Token was to be an essential part of Ailea's breeding program when she left Denian Shelties, and training for the breed ring began shortly after her return home.

Though Token was to be an important link in the lineage which has become - which is - Ailea, it was decided all future plans for Token come to a halt. We were patient with her, to be sure, but after waiting sixteen months Token failed to come into season. To give her the best of the best, which is all she has ever deserved, it was decided Token be spayed and placed into a perfect forever home.

My final word about Token I must share is my deepest thanks and gratitude to Karen of Denian Shelties- For being an AWESOME newcomer to this wonderful breed, for giving Token the unparalleled beginning she received, for being a GREAT friend, and believing and showing the rest of us even the greenest beginner can make the best dreams come true! Anyone interested in Karen, and Denian, are invited to visit the Denian site and all the awesome good things to be found there!

If you, like many others have been, are curious about how Token came about her name, both her registered *and* her call name, perhaps you will enjoy reading "Remembering Soley", an essay in which the story of Token's name is told-

Token, 9 months beautiful

Token is a love. She is proving to be a wonderful addition to her new family, and the home that failed her is missing out on one of those truly exceptional sheltie girls. We are very sad Token had to endure the circumstances of a failed placement before she was able to go to her true home, but we could not be more thrilled to have received her back in excellent condition, so she was able to be immediately placed into her perfect true home.

Living for a bit in Florida following placement, Token has now moved to sunny California where she will live along the coast and learn the ropes of the agility course. Teaching Token is one of the greatest of simple joys, and her new Mama is so taken with our Tokey-Girl she could not be happier. My greatest and utmost gratitude to Charlotte for opening her heart to Token, and giving this very special girl the best of the best.

Once upon a time there were dreams for this litter of puppies, dreams of a three-champion litter, which we are allowed to dream, aren't we? but for whatever various and sundry reasons, the championships never arrived, and each, in their turn, have been retired - Emilu in Alabama, Token herself is now in California, recent word without explanation arrived to say the litter brother Jax would also be retired and placed in a pet home, and Gracie, pretty Gracie, was placed as a pet from the beginning. Dreams might be big, but it is reality that rises to smack you a good one from time to time :-).