"READY OR NOT HERE I COME!"

aka - TJ

TJ was our 13.5 year old mahogany sable and white Collie.
We adopted him at 7.5 when his family surrendered him.
It took him a full year to adjust,
but he finally learned to trust again.

We adopted TJ more than 6 years ago and, after only 9 days with us,
he opened the gate and went for an extended "walk".
After an hour of searching 10 steamy acres,
I went back up to the house for a quick drink.
There was TJ, sound asleep on the front porch!

When I lost my favorite sunglasses on 10 acres of property,
it was TJ who found them!
I had searched and searched to no avail,
and on our next walk, he found them beside a trail
and stood beside them until I went to investigate.

Looks like he's here to stay ...
	... but I wouldn't try to take that ball!

TJ just adored his human sister and was extremely tolerant
of other dogs and our 3 cats.
He proved himself to be very intelligent when he learned
to do tricks by watching his sheltie brother, Cody.
TJ looked forward to his outdoor playtime each afternoon
and learned to appreciate the water in the creek.
He loved splashing around and stopping in frequently for drinks.

His favorite pastime was chasing rabbits,
squirrels, and an occasional deer.
Neither brush nor creek nor barbed wire could keep him
from pursuing the wildlife.
I had to go all the way back to the house
at least three times for scissors
to cut him free of barbed wire fences.
TJ never chased the neighbors' cows.
They're smelly, BIG, and they might chase back!

Even when he showed signs of aging, arthritis,
and intolerance of our hot summers,
TJ still enjoyed the great outdoors
by relaxing underneath a stand of big oaks and pines.

This may have been his second home, but it was his best!
TJ was comfortable here and loved the country life,
and he will always be very dear to us.