Below is a newspaper clipping I came across as I cleaned out some of my Mother's things when she moved to assisted living in the fall of 2005. The date on the newspaper is February 23, 1942
The text of the article is too small to read easily and is reproduced below.
"Everybody across the whole length of the Great Northern system knew the story of Shep, the mongrel sheep dog. For five years Shep had lived within sight of the small, clapboard railroad station at Ft. Benton, Montana, ever since the day he followed the body of his master to the station, from where it was sent away. Through summer and winter he stood meeting every train, awaiting his master's return. He was a friendly dog. Everybody who saw him got to know him. Railway employees spread the story. So, when Shep was killed - hit by a train - the story got around fast, boy Scouts arranged his funeral. Railroaders made a black casket, with glass handles. The mayors of two cities - Ft. Benton and Great Falls - came to bid him adieu. And people cried when the minister from Fr. Benton delivered Shep's eulogy, a sermon on fidelity. They buried Shep on a hill overlooking the station to which his master failed to return."
This is the aussie spirit
I know and love
My first Aussie was from a puppy mill in Ohio and I got her through Aussie Rescue. - she was a blue merle with brilliant blue eyes and I named her Tessa.
Tessa was a wonderful girl and unfortunately I only
had her for 18 months. Tessa crossed the Rainbow Bridge and
waits for me there.
I was teaching at Indy K-9
Kollege obedience school. where I met and became friends with Gale
Rempel of Thistleridge Australian Shepherds. Gale
let me know when she was planning a litter and I was in line for my
first Aussie pup. After waiting for what seemed like forever
I got my little girl - a beautiful red merle bitch, my
Rainey-girl.
She is an obedience fiend, so that makes two of us!
Three years later I got another Aussie, my Belle. and her name is Fairoaks Renderings N Charcoal and she is called Belle. She is passionate about her sheep!
In 2004 we added 'Hank'
(Birch Hollow Suthern Investmnt),
an absolute joy to have around and quite a natural stock dog.