Kippy

Now this story is about Kippy who I have mentioned previously on other posts.

Kippy I first knew at 2 hours old, when a neighbor's youngest daughter (who are also friends) came to let me know Daisy, Kip's mum, had had her 2nd litter. We always say we're related through our animals as Kip was only one of many dogs we had who were blood related to dogs in the other household.

I finally managed to convince my grandmother to allow me to get Kip when he was 2 months old. She did this as I already had and looked after my mare Cherry and she had fallen in love with him the moment she saw him just as I had. This was March 1989, he was born 5 January 1989 just 18 days before little sister was born.

Many things happened over the years I had him. Little Benny (Maltese/Silky and still living) entered in 1996 and the two become fast friends after the first 72 hours (long story there lol). Our neighbors that had bred Kip decided, when their Border Collie/Kelpie x working dog they had gotten some 12 months before, was to have a litter and as I wanted to breed from Kip asked for Kip to be the father (Kip was Kelpie/Coolie x). Kip at this point had not long turned 10 years old.

On 18 May 1999 Morticia and Gomez along with their siblings were born. 4 1/2 weeks later Tish and Mez (or Lixy/Sweetie and Moo/Moo Moo as they're called when they're not in trouble) entered our household. I know it sounds long winded but its just background on how things are here.

Wednesday 12 September 2001 (Australian east coast time) aged 12 years 8 months and 1 week old, we had to have Kip put down due to kidney failure. It was a decision that I particularly found hard having known him from the age of 2 hours, but it was best for him. The ex (daddy) started crying when I did as he took his last breaths.

Just days later on the following Monday, I said to the ex "I'm going to go lie down for a nap". I didn't expect anything out of the ordinary to happen. I'd done it time and again over the years. THIS time was different however!

Now let me tell you, Kip had THE most rotten breath in the last few months of his life he could wake ANYONE from a dead sleep with it just by breathing on them! And I'd been lying there for probably 10-15 minutes when suddenly I smelt Kips breath! I KNEW it was his breath, he was the only to have breath that smelt like that and I knew he was doing his usual of sitting over me to breathe on me to wake me up. Something that he'd done since the day I'd gotten him!

As I've mentioned before, he's let be known he's around since by being on the bed and/or in the bed and there being no dog there! By being heard walking around the house at different times and really just generally being about. He was much loved by all of us including the youngest sister-in-law who's a cat person through and through!

It's comforting to know he's about just like the 2 big ones are, and I certainly wouldn't be without it!