Shasta was an Aussie dog; but also an honorary cat.

We had her in our lives for 16 1/2 years. She was so sweet, and very
protective of my 41yo son, who was her alpha of the pack. In her youth
she was best buddies with Amber (RB), a Maine Coon mix. They loved to
play Chase and Rodeo.

Shasta always accompanied my son every time he was outdoors doing
anything. She sometimes chased birds and bunnies to clear a safe path
for him. She was also very good at chasing cows and calves that broke
through the fence. She had no training, just instinct. She would round
them up and drive them back across the fence, then come for pettins.

She brought us a lot of joy and unconditional love. We miss her
terribly. But we are thankful that she just died of old age, her body
just wore out and she went to sleep. Although she was blind and deaf
for months, it didn't get her down. The last few weeks, though, she
had something like Alzheimer's. We cheerfully cleaned up after her
accidents. And she got so many pettins the last few days as she quit
eating and got weaker. She went to sleep in my son's arms. He did not
cry until her grave was finished with a headstone and sparkly mica
rocks.

Now she is at Rainbow Bridge playing Rodeo once again with her buddy
Amber.

A picture of her can be seen on alt.binaries.pictures.animals