It was five years ago today that I made the difficult decision to send Sundance over the Rainbow Bridge.
He was my first dog and my introduction to the Shetland Sheepdog breed.
Ten years prior on a Saturday afternoon, he captured my heart at a pet store adoption event. His sable coat caught my attention, and drawn closer by his big brown eyes I could see he was trembling in this unfamiliar place.
"Are you going to adopt Sundance?" asked one of the volunteers. "His brother Butch just got adopted."
Sundance was playful, loyal, compassionate, protective. 
He was patient with kids, and a little wary around adults at first but friendly in time. He loved to rest his chin on the sill of my living room window that looks out across the street to a city park. When something piqued his interest he would excitedly do the "Sheltie spin" (think Tasmanian Devil cartoon), dash out the dog door in the kitchen, and run to the side yard gate to bark his greeting.
I would often wake to a Sheltie nose just inches from mine, waiting eagerly for me to get up and start the day with a walk in the park. At the end of a long day Sundance would sleep on his back, all four paws up in the air, twitching as he ran and played in his dreams.
Though he has left this earth ahead of me, Sundance will never leave my heart. Tonight after dinner I'll take Shadow, (my current Sheltie adopted from Nevada Sheltie Rescue), for a walk in the park along with Sundance's collar. We'll stop in some of his favorite spots and I'll tell Shadow a few Sundance stories.
When it's my time to cross over, I know Sundance will be waiting for me - tail wagging, barking happily, doing the Sheltie spin. Then he'll guide Shadow and I on a walk through the most beautiful park, sometimes running on ahead, sometimes coaxing us to play, occasionally stopping under a tree to sit side by side or rest his head in my lap. And I'll thank God for bringing Sundance into my life.
I love you, Sundance.
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