Our departed friend Chance’s strong, attractive mix of traits and characteristics made him the most unique dog I ever expect to know.
He was a handsome border collie, wearing a luxurious blond golden retriever’s coat trimmed with white fringe, and sporting a chow-chow’s stern visage and thick ruff collar. Extremely tidy, he was the only dog I’ve met whose fur and skin had a natural peppermint aroma.
He at once possessed the loyalty and friendly playfulness of a golden retriever, the calm, sweet demeanor of a collie, and the haughty independent attitude of the chow.
His kind heart was as big as his chow-chow’s barrel chest. He ate his meals right alongside his roomate and best pal Ginger the Pomeranian, and although she was less than one-third his size, he never ever took so much as a morsel of her food. Same deal when the two of them were given treats.
Chance ran free in the sunlight, sprinting back and forth across the vast expanse of Taylor Farm Park, and always returning to our side, panting and happy. Ginger ran hard to keep up with him, and when at times she became distracted and lagged behind, he would double back and perform his border collie routine of herding her along.
He seldom left my side, and could read my mind. Without my saying anything he knew when I was upset about something and would nuzzle up to comfort me, warming my heart and soothing my troubles.
Chance’s friendship was as fine a gift as Maureen and I will ever receive in our life. It was an honor to have this magnificent dog in our home.
Paul and Maureen Lanning
4/8/14
