This is Scotty...he died today.

About a year or so ago, I posted this picture saying 'This is Scotty, he's old'.
Well, today I was going through my old pictures of him because he passed away, and I wanted to tell you about him, because he was the goodest of boys, and I'm sad so bare with me.

Scotty was a herding dog, born, bred, raised and trained, for my SO's family farm. Even when his eyes started fogging over and they bought another dog to herd, he was always present and smiling, and could still run circles around any cow. Or the younger pup, for that matter.

Scotty was gentle, and loved people of all ages. He was tolerant of kids, adults, and even our own spastic Golden Retriever--though he was grumpier with other dogs, as was his right as an old man.

This was my favorite thing Scotty did. He'd come up to any willing person who would so much as touch his head, and turn and sit on their feet and lean up onto their legs, reaching his paws for an extended hand, he'd hug the hand that pet his chest and tummy, all while practically quivering with excitement.

The thing I loved most about him though, was the fact that he was always greeting you with a smile. A big, dumb, goofy, bright eyed and bushy tailed grin with his dumb tongue hanging out and his huge tail doing helicopter spins behind him. Even when he was hurting, because his joints ached, he'd get up to greet anyone. He may have groaned a bit when getting off the ground, but there he always was.

For half a year or so, my SO and I lived with his parents when we saved uo for a house, and Scotty made every day brighter. I loved this dog as much as--no, probably more than I love my own three dogs, and I already miss him. He was just the best dog. The goodest.

I hope wherever his soul is, he's chasing cows, cars, and my dumb golden, Shadow, because in life those were his favorite things to herd. I'll miss him dearly.

Tl;dr: Scotty was beamed up, and he was the very bestest of dogs.