I said goodbye to Kipp last Friday. Nine years old is way too young to loose a small, fit, active dog. He rallied nicely when he went on prednisone and chemo and had two months of mostly good days after his diagnosis. He was eating well, putting on lost weight and wanting to do stuff. His attitude was all Border Collie right up until the last couple days. Even then his heart was willing to try but his body just wore out.

He weathered the side effects of chemo and vestibular syndrome in that time. Something would get him down for a day or two and then he'd bounce right back into life. He was also incredibly anemic in the last few weeks and, while it slowed him down, it sure didn't stop him. He still barked at me to play, stalked the cat and tried to slip out to work sheep a couple times.

The little dog who drove me nuts for the first year I had him (and at many times thereafter!) cemented himself in my heart in a big way. He was an honest dog loaded with try and he made me a better trainer, a better person.

He was always a determined, persistent dog in life and that attitude carried him a long ways in the last couple months. I don't think he intended to lose the battle to cancer but in the end he was losing so I helped give him the easy way out of the unfair fight.

Thanks little dude. My only regret is that we didn't have more years together. You deserved so much better than that stupid cancer.

I've been thinking about you, Mara, and wondering how things were going. I'm so sorry that this sad day had to come for you. Kipp's expression in the photo speaks a thousand words, I think. It tells me he was a dog full of intelligence, a zest for life, and a sense of humor. I, too, wish you could have had many more years together. I know he'll always be in your heart.

So very sorry Mara, it sounds like he had a happy and full life, and it is such a damn shame he succumbed at a relatively young age.

Hope your aching heart heals soon.

Rest peacefully Kipp, no more pain.

I am so sorry for you both.
I love the photo. I hope you both have peace soon.

Mara, I am so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine how hard it is to have a dog like Kip pass so much before his time. He sounds like he was a great dog. My heart goes out to you both.

 Quote: Mara Jessup

I said goodbye to Kipp last Friday. Nine years old is way too young to loose a small, fit, active dog. He rallied nicely when he went on prednisone and chemo and had two months of mostly good days after his diagnosis. He was eating well, putting on lost weight and wanting to do stuff. His attitude was all Border Collie right up until the last couple days. Even then his heart was willing to try but his body just wore out.

He weathered the side effects of chemo and vestibular syndrome in that time. Something would get him down for a day or two and then he'd bounce right back into life. He was also incredibly anemic in the last few weeks and, while it slowed him down, it sure didn't stop him. He still barked at me to play, stalked the cat and tried to slip out to work sheep a couple times.

The little dog who drove me nuts for the first year I had him (and at many times thereafter!) cemented himself in my heart in a big way. He was an honest dog loaded with try and he made me a better trainer, a better person.

He was always a determined, persistent dog in life and that attitude carried him a long ways in the last couple months. I don't think he intended to lose the battle to cancer but in the end he was losing so I helped give him the easy way out of the unfair fight.

Thanks little dude. My only regret is that we didn't have more years together. You deserved so much better than that stupid cancer.

Oh, Mara, my heart aches for you.

Bless you for giving him the easier way out when he was starting to lose.


Man, I wish there was more to say. My heart is with you, dear Mara. Run free, beautiful Kipp.

I wondered how it was going.

I am so sorry for you. He just looks like a great dog, a special dog.

It is extra hard to let go of those really special ones. So very sorry Mara that your time together was cut short.

RIP Kip. Run free at the bridge.

from one border collie addict to another . . .

so sorry for your loss mara . what a giant hole in your life is left when one of those guys leave .

i can relate . . . i lost hector suddenly last year . he was two days shy of his tenth birthday , and much deserved retirement .

my elder son ( 20 ) was really affected . . . he thought he was going to get a dog out of the deal , as i was already engaged in bringing henry into the SAR game .

fortunately , for what it is worth , i didn't have to deal with a long drawn out illness . one minute , he was beating on henry for stealing his food , two hours later he was dead .

hopefully you'll have another light in your life to ease the pain . . . condolences to you .

Mara,
I'm sorry for your loss. It is never easy when their time comes, but cancer is so unfair. You gave him a gift by letting him go on his terms, heartbreaking as I know it was for you.
"A picture paints a thousand words" is quite evident in his photo. I never met Kipp but he stole a bit of my heart just looking at his picture.