Maggie May Keefe was born on October 25, 1999. We had lost our Shelby that Summer, and now were ready to get another dog. She was born to a litter at the home of a very nice couple that my hubby and I knew through the general store we work at. We were even more excited when my sister and her husband also decided to get a puppy from that same litter. Maggie and her brother Bear were a mix of German Shepherd, Chocolate Lab, and Golden Retriever. They came to their new homes just before Christmas.
Maggie & Bear at my sister’s on Christmas. They had lots of playdates, at our home, and later at our camp.
Maggie with one of her first little sticks, which she loved!
She grew up so quickly! The photo above is after her first bath.
She was very photogenic and always willing to pose!
Maggie loved life – she loved to chew on sticks and chase the ball. She loved the outdoors just as her sister Shelby had. We took her camping, hiking, and swimming.
She absolutely loved the water. She was a very fast swimmer. There was a river and a pond at our campground, and we spent a lot of time at both.
Therefore, she also loved going out in our boat! She couldn’t wait to jump off and go swimming. She was such a good girl though, she would never go until we stopped and gave her permission.
Most of all Maggie loved her brother Kobi. Kobi came to us when Maggie was about a year and half old. Other than one initial spat on Kobi’s first night at our home (they had played all day and got along famously, but her attitude changed a little when she realized he was staying!); in which she established her position as the boss, there was never a problem between those two.
Unfortunately, Maggie had that one inexplicable trait that some dogs have. She loved to chase cars. She was kept on leash whenever we were near the road. Our elderly neighbors had helped us with our dog Shelby when she was sick with cancer. They also helped us with Maggie when she was a puppy. Roland would come over to our house when we were at work and take her outside, making house training easier. He and his wife enjoyed her so much, and then when Kobi came they would take both of them. They all adored each other. One evening when they were in his care, Maggie got away from Roland and ran after a truck. She was hit and killed instantly, at only 5 years old. Needless to say, we were all heartbroken, including her brother Bear, but Kobi most of all. He loved his new siblings when they came along later, but he has never played with them like he did Maggie. Her death was devastating to all of us and we will always miss her.
I have to tell my personal story of Maggie and Bear. As Jan said, they arrived at their new homes just before Christmas. The family was spending New Year’s Eve at Jan and Tom’s that year and of course Lynn and Forrie and Bear were there. Bear and Maggie, being new puppies, were going to spend the night in the mudroom with newspaper on the floor. Aunt Karen (me) was sleeping in the room next to the mudroom with only a gate separating the 2 rooms. Those 2 puppies were not going to sleep in the mudroom when I was sleeping on a bed that they could see from the gate, and they whined and jumped and whined some more. So I, not wanting them to have any accidents on either the bed or the rug, and not being able to sleep with all that noise, joined them on the floor in the mudroom with my blanket. Bear curled up next to my head and Maggie curled up near my stomach, and there we stayed until Maggie’s dad got up. I still remember how peaceful I felt, on the floor, with those 2 adorable puppies curled up with me.
I was hoping you were going to get on and tell this story, Karen! I almost did, but really wanted to leave it to you. It is one of all our favorite memories.
Wonderful doggies…so sad about getting hit by a car. That is really scary! Thanks for sharing and now mom and I are teary eyed…
Thank you, Emma, for reading and enjoying my memories.
tears here, but yes, what happiness they gave us, Jan. We love all the dogs as you say, but sometimes Maggie seems the most special-maybe mostly because we lost her too soon. We were so fortunate to have Bear longer, but they, and Kobi! had a special bond, and so much fun together. As we therefore all did when they were together! Too many memories-how at first for the longest time, Maggie would swim so fast to get the stick, and Bear would go along the edges of the water instead, until he learned to love to swim as much as she did! Could go on, but won’t! Just glad they are playing together now over the rainbow bridge. Wonderful pics of beautiful Maggie.
Thanks, Lynn. I know, there are so many stories about those two I could have told! I remember some hikes with them too, that were fun. Bear always accepted Maggie as the boss too! I guess she was a bossy girl! I think she was always trying to show Bear up too. 🙂
She is definitely a photogenic dog! Very cute. I had a dog who loved to go on the boat too, but she never liked to jump in the water. Such a sad ending and sorry she had to go that way. At least she left you with some great memories.
Thank you, Ann. Yes, we do have some great memories, and she was a very special dog – though aren’t they all? 🙂
The beagle Kobi loved the boat also (he wishes we still had it), but he also never wanted to go in the water. One time he fell in, and was not very impressed!
what beautiful babies!
Thank you!!