Text Box: Reagan 1998– 2004 A really companionable and indispensable dog is an accident of nature. You can't get it by breeding for it, and you can't buy it with money. It just it happens along." - E B White, The Care and Training of a Dog Reagan came into my life in September 2003, after my long time collie companion, Ulysses, passed over to rainbow bridge. My wife, Barbara decided that since I missed Ulysses so much and that I really liked his blue merle markings, set out on the Internet to find a blue merle that needed to be rescued. After spending a few weeks and running across a few dead ends, she found one in a shelter in a nearby state. This handsome fellow had a very sad story. He was purchased for five hundred dollars originally to be both a show dog and to breed. Unfortunately, his older owner developed serious health problems which he tried to handle by drinking. Unable to take care of himself, Reagan was neglected and was forced to fend for himself. He even attempted to open cans of food with his mouth which cost him his front teeth. Then one day, this fine collie found himself in a shelter hoping that someone would give him a second chance at life and love. On the Friday before Labor Day, one day short of a month from losing Ulysses, I drove to the shelter to pickup my new friend that my wife had found for me. When I first saw him, I knew that Barbara had once again made a perfect match. Despite needing a good brushing and bath since he smelled real bad, I could tell that this was a true diamond in the rough. During the five hour trip home, he just laid proudly in the back of my car with a big collie smile on his face. Reagan immediately became my new friend. He would bark every time I left the house and was always one of the first dogs into the bedroom at night. He would either sleep beside the bed or at the foot of the bed. However, sometime during the night he would jump in bed and almost always nearly push me out of it. Sadly, Reagan passed away suddenly in January 2004. Throughout the day, he was himself and ate heartily. Just a few hours late he was found motionless on the floor. Barely alive, I rushed him to the vet, but I believe he passed away on the trip. We are not sure of the cause of death, but we believe it was heart failure. Reagan, I enjoyed knowing you during the five months you were my special collie and I am sorry our time together was cut prematurely short. I will never forget you buddy. I also want to thank my wife, Barbara, for bringing this special collie into my life. The music for this page is James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain.” It captures his emotions when he learned that a friend had died at a prematurely at young age.