Welcome to Luke's Rainbow Residency

Memories of Luke

Luke was born in Belgrade, Montana. His sire was Tilro Forcella's Charlie of Whitehall, Mt. His dam was Joan Forcella's Jenny of Belgrade, Mt. His first home was in Lavina, Mt. at the sheep ranch of Noreen Lehfeldt. He was apparently a good sheep dog, but tended to run deer as well as sheep. This was not a good characteristic for a serious ranch dog. He was sold to Martha ? of Bozeman, Mt. Martha had a small farm with a small flock of sheep and many other border collies. She used her dogs for tending her small flock and for trialing. On one occasion, young Luke got in with some horses. He wasn't quick enough to escape their kicks. He received a blow to the jaw and lost most of his teeth on the left side. From then on, his left ear drooped and his tongue hung comically from the left side of his mouth. Luke was a very gregarious dog and could be seen visiting with all the humans at sheep dog trials and clinics. At one such clinic, he came over to me and to my other BC, Cobi, and hung out with us for most of the clinic. Whereupon, Martha approached me and asked, "do you want a dog?" She indicated she was very frustrated with what she perceived to be his overly sensitive nature. He would stop working the sheep and high tail it back to the car if anyone raised their voice with him to indicate dissatisfaction with his performance. Cobi and I were delighted. We had already fallen in love with him at first sighting. So, he came home with us to Helena, Mt. that day in the fall of 1992. He was a year 1/2 old. We continued to participate in sheep clinics and trials for the next several years. Luke was a wonderful herding dog. We would spend springs at the Ingall's ranch in Townsend, Montana helping with the lambing and the shearing. Kay and Kelly Ingall's and Gloria O'Donnell would often comment on how valuable he was to the effort. He had such a valiant heart and determined spirit and incredible eye. He could hold sheep all day long, day after day without tiring or getting frustrated or bored. In addition to sheep herding, Luke would accompany me on my daily training runs. For five years he helped me successfully complete ultra-marathons. He, himself, ran in three Le Grizz Ultra-marathons in Hungry Horse, Montana. He also paced me the last 14 miles of four Elkhorn Mountain Endurance Ultra-marathons in Montana City, Montana. He was a comfortable, easy, and enduring running partner. He gracefully accepted his lifestyle change from a herding/trialing dog to a gypsy companion, when Lisbeth and I decided to sell our Montana property and become full-time Rvers traveling throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Luke reveled in learning what the walking route would be at each of the new campgrounds. He was an excellent ambassador with our RVing neighbors. We relied on him to keep track of where we went on some of our hiking expeditions as we sometimes would get to talking and forget which way to go. He always knew the way. Luke became a desert and an ocean dog. He tried herding sea gulls and desert jack rabbits. He was incredibly adaptable and easy going, while at the same time a very sensitive fellow. He never wanted to be underfoot or in the way and would choose the least obtrusive spot in the RV for his spot. Luke was always a very healthy dog. Unlike his pal, Cobi, his hips were even excellent. In January, 2003, while on the Baja of Mexico, we noticed that he was carrying his tail tucked under while walking. This was so unusual for him. He would normally carry his tail high, like a flag, as if to say, "I'm a happy boy out on a walk!" Over the next couple of weeks, Luke began to respond with yelps if we tried to lift or touch him on his hindquarters. We became very alarmed. We took him across the border into the States where we visited several vets. X-rays, blood work, ultrasounds indicated a healthy dog with arthritis in the lumbar section of the spine. A regime of Rimadyl, Butezoladine, aspirin, Dexamethazone, Deramaxx, as well as Chinese and holistic herbs produced little, if any change. In mid-February, Luke began to limp on his left front leg. He had great difficulty getting in and out of the rig. We purchased a special ramp and friends found him a special sling. Both helped some. Ultimately, the vets said he probably has torn his bicipial tendon in the left front shoulder. This, they said, could be repaired with surgery. So, because Luke was in so much pain, and we had been so unsuccessful at reducing it, we decided to go ahead with the surgery. On Monday, March 17th he underwent surgery. He came out of it well. However, they did not find a torn tendon. Instead, they found a growth on his scapula, just beneath the tendon. They biopsied it. We were to have received the results of the biopsy on Thursday. Luke was to come home on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. We talked to the vet technician on Tuesday at noon. Luke was doing very well. He was up and in and out of his kennel. He was putting weight on his left front leg. He was ahead of schedule in recovery (what a strange concept). At 3 p.m. the phone rang and it was the vet. He said Luke had just had a heart block. They had gotten him on to an EKG and administered atropin and had his heart rate stabilized. The vet was very surprised by this turn of events. As part of pain control after surgery, Luke had been administered a Fentanyl patch. They removed this when his condition, so suddenly, changed. We were on our way to the vet clinic when we got a second call to tell us that Luke had not made it. He had had a second heart attack and they could not stabilize his heart rate. He was eleven years old and so far from his Montana home. We were in Palm Springs, California when he died. We were so unprepared. So, Luke, someday we will meet you at the bridge to herd that last flock of sheep home. We carry your spirit with us every day. We love you and miss you. Away-to-me, my old pal. Linda, Lisbeth, and Buddy p.s. Give Bunty, Bob, Lois, Cobi, Andy, Rimini, Thelma, Louise, Chulo, Roddy and Tana our love. We miss them so much, too.

Photograph Album
(Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo)

Luke's People Parent(s), Linda & Lisbeth, would appreciate knowing you have visited their Baby's Residency. Click here to Email Linda & Lisbeth a message, or to send a sympathy card click here. Email this page to a friend. Give a gift renewal of Luke's residency.

Share

What is This?

This site was inspired by and is dedicated to FiFi

Visit the Human side of Rainbows Bridge - BelovedHearts.com