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Sadly, this story did not have a happy ending. Last month, Riley began showing signs of distress when sitting or moving too fast, eventually her back legs stopped working. The vet diagnosed a ruptured disc, some semi-heroic measures were tried (steroid injections), but in the end the decision had to be made to end her suffering. This time, the wife & #2 son attended her final moments & I was spared (some of) the grief. At >70 lbs, bringing her home for burial was not an option, but cremation made that more doable.
Apparently the two sides of her nature, the lethargy of a Lab vs. the extremely active ACD, caused a conflict that her body just couldn't handle; more Heelers suffer terrible injuries than die of old age, from what I've read.
But for every ending, there is another beginning...so may I introduce Sydney, Mini Australian Shepard. 3 yr old shelter dog, still quite skittish after having been dumped from her previous home, but she seems to be gradually adjusting that this is her new home, & she's not going anywhere.
BTW, yes, this is another Mama's dog...
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