Rest well, sweet Ollie bear.....

Everyone has their first.  Ollie was mine.  He was my first AKC registered dog…. My first dog from a breeder…. My first show dog….  A dog who introduced me to many wonderful people (and a few of whom I am very close with still). 

Ollie hated dog shows.  He was retired from the dog show ring with 2 points I think.  He was neutered a few days after a show when he left growling and I left in tears. 

Ollie was a SMART dog.  Smarter than any of the Cardigans I've had since (sorry, guys!).  He had such an array of ‘stupid dog tricks’ that it was ridiculous. 

After moving from California to Arizona, Ollie and Dakota started really going at it.  It was a power struggle neither intended on losing.  After months of trying to work it out, and having them fight even through closed doors, I made the incredibly difficult decision to place Ollie.  I cried and cried, but knew it was best for my sweet little red boy. 

Ollie saw me through a lot.  He was my buddy.  So to let him go was one of the hardest things I had done. 

I’m glad I did.  He was needed even more by a wonderful woman named Susan, who had just lost her Pembroke, Frank. 

Ollie went in and filled a hole in Susan’s heart that was perfectly Ollie sized.  I saw Ollie and Susan a few times in the years to come.  He met Sedona and even though she was a pretty spiffy little dog. 

Our dear sweet Ollie boy went to the bridge today after determining that his lungs and liver were covered in cancer.  He was 10 years old. 

Below is a letter I wrote to Ollie on the occasion of his 6^th birthday….. I found it very fitting to share again today, on his last day. 

Dearest Ollie, 

It was love at first sight, when I saw you at Grandma Carolyn's house for the first time... I loved your pictures, but nothing could have prepared me for the feeling I had when I saw you. You were such a cute fuzzy little 10 week old mischief maker and you immediately stole my heart. 

Over the course of the next four years, you would grow and develop into such a smart loving young dog.

While I'm sorry I couldn't provide a forever home for you, I'm so glad that you have Susan to take care of. Most of the time I'm not sad about not having you around, but days like today are hard. I waited and waited for you... You were everything I hoped for in a puppy.

I know that you are making Susan VERY happy, providing her with laughter and lovies all the time :) You're a very lucky dog, Ollie bear... To have two women who love you so so much.

I hope you have the bestest of birthdays and that Susan lets you party like the rock star you are :)

I will always love you Bearbee... You'll always be my first... Have a fabulous birthday, and I hope to see you soon ok??

All my love, Mama Traci

Ollie at 6 months old on a hike - always smiling :) 

Ollie and his littermate, Kiara - at Kiara's house in Oregon.  They are now together again frapping with wild abandon, I am sure.  

My favorite picture ever of Ollie and Kota.  This picture took FOREVER to make, but it is such a beautiful shot of both boys....  

A visit with Ollie after he went to live with Susan - back when Sedona was just a wee one.  He enjoyed our visits - they were harder on me, for sure.  

And the photo I thought was perfect to end this tribute with.... Ollie looking as regal as always, looking off at something in the distance.  

I will forever and always love you, my Ollie Bear.  No one will ever take the Ollie shaped hole in my heart.  There are no words to express how deep my love for you goes, Bearbee....  

Rest well, good boy - until we see each other again.  

All my love, 

Momma Traci

C-Myste Baledwr Wocket N My Pocket, CGC

4/10/02 ~ 11/28/12

Visit with Ollie

Ollie is such a character, and it's good to see that some things NEVER change :)
i was getting "sniffed up" ;-)
Susan and I took the dogs for a walk, and Ollie was showing me that he can still "digdigdig" on command :)
my handsome boy :)
he's always been SO photogenic!
Ollie and Sedona... two very very special dogs in my life
photogenic boy :)
me and my boy :)
the three of us... too bad I wasn't looking!
Sis and I having a special moment... caught by Susan :)

He was too funny with the jack-o-lantern!

A visit with Ollie :)

Sedona and I went to go and visit Ollie and Susan today :) Susan is an absolutely wonderful person, and of course Ollie will always hold a chunk of my heart :) He and Sedona just love each other to bits :) it's adorable.


They played like old friends, and Ollie tried really hard not to dominate her the WHOLE time ;-)
Smiling that infamous "Ollie-Bear" grin :) Still has handsome as ever at 6 years old :)

Ollie and his Mama Susan :) Doesn't he just look SO happy?
Our attempt at trying to get Susan and the two dogs! Ollie had an agenda of his own ;-) (nah, not Ollie!)
Then Ollie took us outside to show us his favorite spots. He lays on this concrete bench and watches and talks with the neighborhood dogs :)
Had to pose for the obligatory photo op :)
Sedona was very generous with her kisses with Susan....

And finally, my Ollie bear and me :)
I really am SO lucky to have found Susan for Ollie... she's all anyone could ask for when placing a dog... he's her love, and I couldn't ask for more! :) They moved closer in the last few months, so now they're only a half hour drive away just up Ellsworth :) He has his own yard and his own doggie door! He's SO happy, and it shows!
Leaving him was hard... as always... but I could tell it was hard on him too this time... :( I miss him deeply... but am so thankful he has Susan :)

Happy 6th Birthday Ollie!

from a letter I wrote to Susan & Ollie ....

(Ollie at just a few weeks old)

Dearest Ollie,

It was love at first sight, when I saw you at Grandma Carolyn's house for the first time... I loved your pictures, but nothing could have prepared me for the feeling I had when I saw you. You were such a cute fuzzy little 10 week old mischief maker and you immediately stole my heart.

Over the course of the next four years, you would grow and develop into such a smart loving young dog.

While I'm sorry I couldn't provide a forever home for you, I'm so glad that you have Susan to take care of. Most of the time I'm not sad about not having you around, but days like today are hard. I waited and waited for you... You were everything I hoped for in a puppy.

I know that you are making Susan VERY happy, providing her with laughter and lovies all the time :) You're a very lucky dog, Ollie bear... To have two women who love you so so much.

I hope you have the bestest of birthdays and that Susan lets you party like the rock star you are :)

I will always love you Bearbee... You'll always be my first... Have a fabulous birthday, and I hope to see you soon ok??

All my love, Mama Traci

Today the Dr. Suess litter of 02 turns 6 years old! It hardly seems possible that that much time has passed! while Ollie is no longer a resident at my house, I think of him all the time, his picture (with Kota) is mounted above my bed, and I remind myself often that he's in a much better place than I could have provided for him. He really is a good dog... just a bit.... snarky sometimes ;-)

(Ollie at 6 months)

Happy Birthday C-Myste Baledwr Wocket N My Pocket PHC, CGC!!

(Ollie at just under 3 years old)

A Visit with Ollie :)

I went to go and see Ollie today for the first time in over a year... I just haven't made it a priority, and I feel bad... but it was great to see him :) He's gained some weight (which Susan promises to work on) but he looked GREAT otherwise :)
Sedona made herself right at home, hopping up on Susan's lap and hanging out on the sofa....

Happy boy :)
Me and my boy... bad lighting, but ok picture ;-)

We got down on the floor and started playing... just like old days :)
Him lookin up to his mama for approval ;-)
This is my favorite picture (despite it looking like I'm being taken over by my hair!)
We did all of his tricks... my Cardigans must be dumb or something... none have picked up on all the tricks Ollie knows... ;-)
Just the happy bear
The kids playing with Susan
Ollie winning at tug :)
Me playing tug with him :)
I miss him, but I'm not sad about him anymore... I'm sad that he's not with me, but I'm SO happy he's in a great home :) I'm even happier that I can go see him and that he's nearby! :) Susan is a great lady and I'm very fortunate to have met her and to know that she's taking care of my very special Ollie bear :)

An Ollie update

It's been over a year now, since Ollie went to go and live with Susan... it seems like it was just yesterday, but yet it feels like he's been with her forever....

I wrote her an email the other day, and this is her reply...

Hi Traci,

I wondered if you had disappeared from Phoenix! Many months ago when you called me, I called you back and told you it'd be fine to get together that coming weekend. But, I never heard from you again.

This coming weekend will not work out because my brother is coming in town to visit and help me find a house to buy. I'm looking in Gilbert/Chandler/some of Mesa for a house with a yard....which Ollie will LOVE.

He's doing so well and is terribly spoiled. On occasion he spends time with my mom's west highland terrier and they love each other to pieces. It's really interesting because he's aggressive with the majority of dogs he meets, but then there will be a dog or two that he is friendly with all the time. I do want to get him a buddy when I buy my house. Have been thinking a of female corgi pup.

The next weekend that you have open I will be in Palm Springs for business. You can certainly come by after I get off work one day on your off days, just let me know when. Did you change jobs?

It's hard to believe that it's been so long since you saw us. But anyhow, rest assured your little guy is happy, happy, happy :-)

Susan

I just could NOT have found a better home for Ollie... I feel so incredibly lucky. I miss him sometimes, and think that Kota can do the things that Ollie used to, but alas, it's just not so. There are many many things that I miss about my Olliebear, but the end... what pushed us over the edge... is enough for me to be grateful that he has another home. If not for his departure, I would not have Sedona and Chance, so life is good :)

I'm going to see if I can't go see Ollie soon... it HAS been a long time (Since last September?) and I miss my bear :) I love that he's close so I *can* see him.

In October it'll be a year since Orion went to New Mexico too... Gosh last year sucked.

Life is definitely on the rise...

Happy Birthday Ollie bear

I wrote to Susan this morning to wish Ollie a happy birthday...

"I just wanted to make sure to send you GREAT BIG BIRTHDAY WISHES to our favorite red Bear dog, Ollie :)

Please be sure to give him a great big hug and kiss from his mama Traci and tell him how much I love him and miss him. Please wish him a happy 5th birthday for me...

I can't believe my baby is 5 years old!! LOL Time flies.

Here's hoping special treats are in store for the "old guy" tonight :)

I hope to be able to catch up with you guys soon! Let me know what your schedule looks like....

Take care,
Traci"

and she replied:

"Hi Mama Traci!

I am so happy this morning. I just woke Mama Susan up with a lot of bear kisses and she took me for a walk outside where I looked for kitty cats. I am full of energy today. It's good being 5. I met my Grandma's doggie, Nick, a couple of weeks ago, and he is my best buddy now. He is a one-year old West Highland terrier and we love to run and play at Grandma's house in Sun Lakes. He sure keeps me laughing and having fun.

My mama and I want to see you sometime soon. She's had some really hard and long hours at work these past couple of months, but sees the light at the end of the tunnel when this big fundraiser is over on the 21 of April. Maybe we can visit and see each other soon after :-)

I love you Mama Traci and thanks for wishing me happy birthday. This picture was taken last week with a new present I got, just for being such a good dog.

your bear,

Ollie"

I sure do miss my boy.... but knowing he has the best home EVER has made it semi tolerable... Happy Birthday to the rest of that Dr. Seuss litter... 4/10/02

And thanks Carolyn, for letting that dog touch my life.

just got a note

from Ollie's new mom, Susan... and she included these photos... and here come the water works again....

Gosh I miss this dog...

memories

Today brought back some painful memories of this past summer... when I had to place Ollie in a new home.

it was because of Ollie and his littermate Kiara, that I met my friend Cassie. WhenI had to place Ollie, it broke Cassie's heart, but she knew I was faced with no other option. Well, in recent months, Cassie had started to have problems with Kiara being overly aggressive with her 1 year old Cardigan boy and her 3 year old Pem girl.
Cassie made the difficult decision to place Kiara, and she went to her new (WONDERFUL) home tonight.

So in tribute to the two little peas in a pod... below are pictures of them taken together. I love those two dogs more than words can say... but knowing they're in wonderful homes as only dogs helps lessen the pain some.

C-Myste Baledwr Faoona Lagoona
"Kiara"
&
C-Myste Baledwr Wocket N My Pocket PHC, CGC
"Ollie"

my most beautiful dogs...

Back in 2003 i took Dakota with me to the dog show in Dixon when I was showing Ollie. Kota might have been 4 months old. I happened to have been set up next to a photographer so i chated with them. I ended up getting my dogs picture taken by her... (see below). Her name is Barb.

I had another one taken when Kota was 8 months old...



In October of 05 I picked up Orion. At a northern California CWC club meeting, i took Orion to Dixon, and Barb was there. He was 14 weeks old, if memory serves.

When I saw that she was going to be at the SoCal shows, I was so excited :) She's always done a lovely job with my dogs, so I hunted her down! :)

Below is Sedona at 7.5 months (not quite, but close enough)

Didn't those come out WONDERFULLY????????
I couldn't be more pleased :)