A couple of years ago, I went to meet Dr. Nancy Burns, a very gifted chiropractor in Bennington, Vt. When I walked in the door I met a friendly, beautiful border collie who looked oddly familiar to me. When I asked about him, they told me he came from the same farm where my border collie Izzy came from

He was, it turned out, Izzy’s son. And one of many. Izzy was a busy man before I got him and had him neutered. There were a lot of Izzy’s out there.This guy was named Casey, and although Izzy died a couple of years ago – he was a hospice therapy dog, my first – it is great to see another dog with his easy-going and sweet spirit.

Casey is having a rough time right now, surgeries on one leg, possibly another. He is bigger than Izzy, but just as mild-mannered. I have been blessed to have easy going border collies, except of course, for the super-charged Fate. it’s neat to see Casey when I go to the chiropractor, he is always there, much cosseted by the staff.

Izzy chased sunsets with me when I started taking photographs up at the old Bedlam Farm, when we ran around every night chasing the sinking sun. He and I drove all over the lower Adirondacks seeing hospice patients out in the woods. He was a sensitive therapy dog, a great companion. He stood with me when I needed the love and friendship of a good dog, and I think of him whenever I see Casey.