Meredith Mansfield, Author

September 25, 2000 – May 10, 2016

This is the first picture I have of Aliza, before she came to me at 15 months old–and stole my heart from the very first day.

Aliza was a Cardigan Welsh Corgi. Yes, her legs were supposed to be that short. Cardis were originally bred to herd cattle (short legs helped them duck kicks from the cows) and be general farm dogs, able to herd the cattle, guard the farmstead, take care of rodents, and play with the children.

Aliza was all heart–the heart of a lion–from the very beginning. And willing to try anything I asked of her.

For fun, we did a herding instinct test.

She passed.

But what we both enjoyed–and what helped keep me sane during the years I was caregiver for my mother–was agility.

That NJP after her registered name is an agility title–Novice Jumpers Preferred. The CGC stands for Canine Good Citizenship.

She got along with just about every dog or cat she ever met.

She helped raise an abandoned kitten.

She was over the moon when I brought home a cardi boy.

She was not well over the weekend. Very not well on Sunday, refusing to eat. Monday, the vet diagnosed kidney failure. Tuesday I let her go on ahead, though it broke my heart. She was fifteen and a half, and a little bit more.

I will be turning around, looking for her in all her usual places for a long time.

Fly and be free, Miss Ears, my Bear, my best girl. I miss you.