Saying Farewell is Never Easy

Already more than a week ago, 3 1/2 year old Sage and her mom stopped in to say a farewell. They are moving out of town and won't be visiting us for daycare. It took me a while to get through writing this post. It was an emotional time and I took a few moments in between photos to pause and remember Sage's visits.
We are very sad to see them leave but we know they'll have a wonderful life and meet a brand new pack of buddy's. It was a day when Bailey, River, and Ruby were all visiting. This is Sage's farewell photo with three of her very good buddies. Little did they understand it was probably the last photo of them here altogether before Sage heads off on a new adventure. 

Ruby - "Why you leabin' us Sagey? We gonna' miss you."
Bailey - "We're going to give her a prezzie right?"
River - "Can we share her good bye cookies?"

We first met Sage in the Summer of 2020. She was just 8 weeks old.  This tiny little chocolate border collie came to visit us with a friend who would soon become her very best buddy, Miss Hazel.
Even though Sage was so young, her mom wanted us to meet her and let me know, she would be applying for daycare when the time was right, and her little bundle of energy was old enough.
Oh my goodness I melted. This little bundle of fluff captured our hearts FULL ON!
My heart also said, "OMG not another puppy!" A purebred Border Collie, Oh man!

When her time for a M&G came along she was only 8 months old. A fluffy girl, full of confidence and mischief. She had her little nose into everything and although she was small, she demanded that the other dogs love her and do zoomies with her, right now! 
She wouldn't come for a full day of daycare for another few months, but when  she did she was raring to meet new friends.

Sage - "Come on mom! Let's get going!"
The daycare dogs are waiting to meet me!"

She often came with her friend Miss Hazel and the two of them became a bonded daycare pair very soon. Sage made many other friends over the short 3 years she was here. Those friends are definitely going to miss her fun games. We really hope one day she'll drop back in to play. Until that time, we know she's going to make a lot of new friends and she'll be seeing her old best buddy Miss Hazel. Yay Sage.

Sage - "Do you think they'll like me Hazel?"
Hazel - "Yes, Sagey, they'll love you"

Sage could often be seen doing some of the same things Hazel had done on her previous visits. Playing hide n seek under the lounge was a favourite. When I couldn't see where she was, I only had to move the lounge a bit to reveal her sweet face. 

Sage - "Leeb me alone. I tryin' to sleep here."

Sage made friends easily and there weren't many times I had to separate her. If she was separated it was because of her excitement and the other's reluctance to participate in her high energy games.  After all, she had learned many lessons from her wonderful daycare mentor, Miss Hazel.
They were often the first to arrive and started my day with a the biggest smile and a warm glow in my heart. What a way to begin my days.
Video - Good Morning Sage & Hazel

Another one of Sage's most favourite friends was the fun loving Lupin. They were friends out of daycare as well and when they visited for play days, the other dogs had to clear an area for them. Like Hazel, Lupin has also moved away. We miss them so much!

Video - Tug Team Sage & Lupin

Each time Sage arrived at daycare she made sure to say a polite hello to Our Royal Lady May before any others. There was never a time when Sage missed an opportunity to show respect and to give out a daily dose of ear washes to everyone. Lady May always asked her to stop but really didn't seem to mean it. Even though Sage was a high energy, active girl, she knew how to show proper respect to her seniors and never crossed that line. I would often keep her on lead, when others may not approve of Sage's kisses and face washes. She seemed to understand, being on lead meant there might be a safety issue and she curbed her advances. Our late Marchioness lil Molly could be a bit tough with new youngsters, but Sage won her heart over in no time at all. 

Sage - "Look! I bring you a toy!"
lil Molly - "Yes, ok but dont kiss me."

lil Molly - "Okay maybe just a little kiss."

Sage loved so many different styles of play. When she had others to play with, she was a very happy girl.  She certainly had favourite toys, but really, she seemed to love all at her disposal. She would go  straight for the bins and picked out her favourite for that hour. She'd return often and chose another, leaving the scattered remains around the house and yard. Such a monkey.
It used to be a task for me to decide what Christmas present to give, because she loved so many. Balls, squeakers, stuffies, chew toys, tug toys. They all had Sage's mark on them.
Her favourites finally became balls. She would carry one in her mouth and play with a second. She'd wait for me to throw one and zoom after it while carrying her chosen one. When she caught up with it, she pawed at it and looked to me to come get it and throw it again for her. Such a funny girl.  When I played ball with the others, she only ever ran close by them and never picked up the one being thrown or played with. She just wanted to RUN! (with a ball in her mouth) Such a sweet girl.
She loved to share her toys and would often invite another buddy to play.

She had her work cut out for her with Khione. Khione didn't care much for the toys and would often rather get some respite from her puppy brother.  That didn't stop Sage from offering even though it seldom worked.

Sage - "I'll hold on to the toy for later then. After you had a rest can we zoom?"
Khione - "Maybe."

The pool was a favourite summer fun time. She ruled the pool and dared anyone to try to get a toy. She was always two paws in waiting for it to be filled and the toys to be added. Oskar never really cared for the pool but brother Bentley waited right along side of Sage.

Sage - "When the toys come in I get first pick ok?
Bentley - " Ummm mayyy be..."
Oskar - "Not the balls though. I get the balls!"

Step brother Loki and Lupin would just bide their time. They knew Sage would soon get tired of waiting and need to zoom. The pool was a great past time but it still didn't beat a good game of chase.

When senior Cash came to visit, she always respected him and simply followed him around on his daily walk about. This time with buddy Kona.

The recent best buddies for rough and tumble tug or chase or zoomies were Bailey and River. When they were together there was no stopping the fun!

Ruby joined that fun trio once her and Sage had decided they were 'okay' together. It took a bit of slow easy separated days but by the time Sage was moving Ruby had become one of her best buddies, and a worthy tug opponent. Isn't it always the way!

Size never mattered to Sage. She may be small in stature but she made up for it in agility and determination. Henry was truly one of her worthy tug opponents. She rarely lost the tug game with him. He would drop to the ground and eventually lose his grip and Sage would be the winner once again.

Sage- "You may as well give up Henry. Im no quitter."
Henry - "Just let me readjust my grip okay?"

There wasn't always a young, energetic buddy to play with visiting. Sometimes it was a seniors day or week. That didn't bother Sage. She fit in to what ever the days dynamic was.  A ruff, tuff game of tug, or a quiet lazy lay in sun/shade day. Sage was such a loving easy dog to provide for.

Sage - "Come on Bailey. give me all ya got!"
Bailey - "Okie doke. You asked for it!"

Sage spends a quiet day with seniors,
Miss Sadie. Sir Cash, Lady May.

Even when she was a little hesitant to meet newcomer, Coco, Sage kept an open mind and tried her best to make him her buddy. 

Sage - "errrmm, I fink maybe I'll keep my distance from you."
Coco - "No, really, I'm a friendly guy. You'll eventually love me."

Unfortunately Sir Coco moved away before a true friendship could blossom. I know it would have.

Sage - "Okay, Loki, you distract him and I'll grab the ball."
Loki - "Hello Sir Coco, I love your fluffy ears."
Coco - "You can't distract me from my ball so don't even try."

Our extended pack and household will truly miss our Miss Sagey poo and her mom. Sage and her mom became a part of our family that gave our hearts a warm feeling when we visited.  I will miss our drop/off pick/up chats and all the laughs and giggles we had discussing Sage's daily antics. Oh my goodness how we laughed. She was such a delightful visitor.
I'm certain they will have fantastic adventures and can't wait for a few updates as they travel along on their journey.

A snowy farewell day. Sage is oblivious this is her last day with us.

Be a good girl for mommy sweetheart. She's going to need your support on the long journey.

Saying have a wonderful journey to Sage who's probably thinking - "Why you so sad. Let's PLAY!"

Sage was one of the many who LOVED dress up days and we're going to miss her sweet face on those special days. Here's one more glimpse of her darling face in a preview of our upcoming March dressup day. 

We will miss you and think of you often Sage. We hope you write often.

Farewell Sage and mommy