Bonnie was born to parents unknown, with family unknown, some time around February or March 1994. The only information the shelter had was that she was 14 months old that day in May 1995 when we saw her, that she had been placed there because of allergy issues, that she had been clipped very closely, and that her given name was "Chloe Ann".

We had gone to the shelter to look for a companion for our beloved Golden Retriever, Amber, who was beginning to have issues with our work schedules. This "Chloe Ann" was bright, friendly, happy, and proved to be most obedient and amenable to handling and play when we took her to the shelter yard.

Little did we know.

We took her home that day, and gave her her new name; she took to it quickly. She also took to being the overdog Alpha Supreme Ruler of the Pack, much to Amber's chagrin. She proved her intelligence and will very quickly. For a day or two we thought we might have to take her back to the shelter, as her efforts to take control overwhelmed our foofy Golden.

On the first day we left them at home together, Bonnie was blocked into a bathroom with a bed, and a crate/cage strapped to the entrance door (by entering the crate she was 'outside' in the hallway; we thought that would allow Amber some freedom in safely getting to know her better). By the end of the day Amber knew her very well indeed.

That night we opened the door and found two dogs greeting us at the door. Bonnie was happy but matter of fact. Amber... well, Amber was frazzled. Seriously rumpled. But unhurt. Dogs have their ways, and our Pack had been permanently increased. I just wish we had had a camera running to see what happened! Neither of them would ever tell us. Some things are not for mere humans to understand.

Bonnie attached herself to me, and Amber to my wife. They never really achieved the bond we had hoped for, but were tolerant companions. Amber never quite gave up trying to put one over on Bonnie, and Bonnie never let Amber forget who the boss was. At least they were not alone. And Bonnie became the watcher, observant, protecting. Very little occurred near our home that did not catch her eye. And she grew fur. Such fur. So much fur. The sleek short-haired collie-mutt became a leonine silk-furred plume-tailed fluffball, and the most beautiful dog we ever saw.

Bonnie put us through many health trials. From hotspots due to incessant licking, and recurring infections, to arthritis and dysplasia late in life. But she never gave up. When one rear leg stopped working, she hopped on the other. When that leg also failed, she learned to move herself around as best she could, though stairs became insurmountable, and trips outside were made in a wheelchair cart or with the aid of a sling held by her two-legged Packmates. She traveled many miles on that sling, going where she wanted, leading her human carrier, always watching, always ready to make it known who was boss, and that her Pack was protected.

Her irrepressible spirit did not fail until the very end. She joyfully greeted our daily returns, smiled and surveyed all about as we cleaned her, giving approval that all was well, snarfed food and water with abandon, and even decimated a nylon marrow bone just prior to her last two weeks.

Bonnie passed from this world on June 30th, 2007. She had told us she was done, that the spirit could no longer endure. But in the end she smiled one last smile and told us all would be well; the Pack endures.