Say goodbye to the Queen of the Border Collies.

Mollie Burkhart, one awesome dog.   She was born on April 1,1998, on a dairy farm near Chatteroy, Washington.  She tolerated only one cat in her life, and that was Jones, pictured below.

 

What does it take to be an awesome dog?  

She only barked when there was something to bark about, such as a deer in the yard.  That required one bark.  A bear, on the other hand, required several barks that became known as "Mollie's bear bark".  Her job was to keep deer, moose, bear, raccoons and any other varmint, out of my garden and that is exactly what she did.

She stayed home and patrolled our property daily for those pesky varmints.  She liked being outdoors and preferred it.  At night she slept on the deck underneath our bedroom window.  She was always on the job.  When she did come in the house, she had her rug by the door and that was where she would be, especially in her senior years.  She loved sleeping on the rug.  

She absolutely loved to play with the Frisbee or any toy that could be retrieved.  She was very good at it.  She also loved the Old Cougar Road version of golf.  She was just positive that golf ball was for her.

She was very gentle and patient with kids and never tried to herd them but kept track of them all the time to be sure they were safe. 

 

Mollie and Collin

She loved the "Firewood Game".  Jon would use the wheel barrel to bring in loads of wood to the house.  He would throw her toy and Mollie would retrieve it and drop it in the wheel barrel for Jon to throw it again. 

April 1, 1998 - May 8, 2012

In memory of Mollie, a rendition of Tom T. Hall, singing "Old Dogs and Children and Watermelon Wine".