Dear All,

My Ajak, a border collie/lab mix was adopted, at 12 wks old, by my son
Marty and I back in 1998, from the shelter in Carroll Co Md, Defenders
of Animals Rights. In years to come, it was a constant response when
asked how old he was, it was always "going on 2 yrs". He just wasn't
allowed to grow old!

Today, my heart was torn out of my chest, as I had to give my best
friend, Ajak, mercy.

I've had the fun, the joy, the privilege of so many visitors coming
to adopt, coming to visit, coming to Ferretstock or Oktoberfest, of
watching Ajak greet each and every one of you. He would run up and
greet you, take you to the back of the farm and run circles, welcoming
each and every one of you!!

I'm doing the math tonite, and with all of those events and visits,
it's in the couple thousands that encountered Ajak.

He was more than just my dog, he was Rocky's ambassador. Ajak so loved
the ferrets. His border collie instincts would come out when we had the
ferrets free-roaming in the yard, and he would herd them, nosing up
those strays and throwing them back into the soft grass with the rest
of the group. If for one moment he was not sure of you, he would
position himself between you and the ferret, daring the hell out of
you to make an unwelcomed move towards the ferrets. He so loved the
ferrets. He was the keeper of the ferrets here at Rocky's.

I want to celebrate his life. As I said, his interaction with visitors
goes back to 1998. If anyone has any stories, or pics, I'd so enjoy
hearing and seeing them.

Bridge Greeters, could you please consider a dog, a very special dog.
He so enjoyed all those that loved ferrets, and most of all, he
himself, loved them. Tonite I envision him in the garden having so much
fun with his beloved ferrets, he loved them all, each and every one of
them.

What an incredible joy Ajak has been. My life has been so blessed with
him in it.

If anyone has Ajak stories, I'd loved to hear them, and help comfort my
grieving heart. Thank you.

Barb Clay
Dir of Shelter Affairs for Rocky's
www.rockysferrets.com

[Posted in FML 6451]