Missing Clive

When mom got her first apartment, one of the first things she did was go to the animal shelter in town. There, in one of the cages, was a tiny little black and white ball of fluff. He was an 8 week old puppy. The shelter worker told mom that he was a border collie mix, and that his family had moved back to Mexico, and left this little one.

Mom didn't know anything about border collies, but she knew she wasn't leaving this trembling ball of fluff in that cage.

On the way home from the shelter, she got the first glimpse of what kind of intelligence she was dealing with. That terrified puppy suddenly became the happiest puppy in the world. She never saw him scared again.

She named him Clive. He was the sweetest thing. And smart. He went everywhere with mom from the first day.

She bought him a million toys, taught him a ton of tricks - he was an angel and a joy. They went camping, swimming, and hiking.

He grew up, and became quite the gentleman. Mom loved to take him to the park next door and watch baseball games. She loved to take him to the woods to run. He never let her get out of his sight.

They were best friends. Clive was the perfect dog. He loved mom (I understand - I love her, too), and she loved him.

Clive moved around with mom. She moved into a different apartment, then a house, then another apartment. In that apartment, mom got another dog, Scruffy. That didn't phase Clive a bit. Just another friend! He loved everyone.

He took a lot of grooming. He didn't like getting groomed, but he stood still like a good boy while mom used the clippers on him. Here's what he looked like once when mom let his hair grow out. Scary!

Clive could sit, stay, heel, roll over, play dead, fetch, drop it, come, and crawl. Mom never stopped working with him, teaching him new things.

But one day, on July 14, 2002, mom came home, and Clive had died. It was a terrible day. He was only 6 years old. Mom was devastated. She buried him in the backyard.

Mom still misses that fuzzy guy. Grammy knew how sad mom was, and she made a quilt with Clive on it.

It's been six years since Clive left mom, but she still loves him. Here he is - Clive - the best dog ever!

Clive Pendersley
1996-2002

Mom still loves you