“Sadie brightened his days”

From Connie and Jerry:

Pat was an integral part of our family on many levels. She was a dear friend to all of us.

My mother, Betty, got her Lhasa, Sadie, from Pat after her first Lhasa passed away. Pat had called my mother and mentioned she had a 1 year old Lhasa that Pat felt would be happier not travelling to dog shows and needed a good home. Betty and Jerry, Sr. saw Sadie and fell in love immediately. Jerry, Sr. was very ill at the time and Sadie became his companion brightening his days.

When my mother passed away in 2000, we inherited Sadie to add to our canine brood of a Weimaraner and Cairn Terrier. The 15 year old Cairn was hard to convince that Sadie was a cute addition and Pat helped us through the transition. She wanted it to work as much as we did.

In a few months, Sadie will be 17. Pat lovingly groomed Sadie every few months and we often called upon her for her sage advice on dogs.

We will never forget Pat, we have a wonderful dog and unforgettable memories, thanks to Pat.

“It feels like the end of an era

From Netta:

As her dog sitter, I spent a lot of time at your mom’s house when she wasn’t there. However, I also had many lengthy phone conversations with her, and on a few occasions spent the evening visiting when I happened to be staying overnight with a dog across the street. And, of course, we had to spend time getting to know one another and going through the routine before she would entrust me with the care of her babies.

Pat and her Lhasas have been a significant presence for me in the years I have been doing this work and, in that respect, it truly feels like the end of an era. It made a huge difference to her, as she embarked on this journey, to know that all of the dogs found their way to happy homes or other situations where they would be safe and cared for until their retirement.

“Lhasas bring good luck”

From Bill:

I first met Pat when we were looking for a small dog after the loss of our 2 larger dogs.  We were recommended to her by our vet who coincidently was the same vet that Pat used.

Pat had just had a litter of 4 or 5 puppies and after a long process of meeting with her several times and obtaining her approval for being parents to one of her puppies she agreed to sell us Humphrey.  Now I know why she was so careful in placing one of her puppies: she thought of them as her own children and wanted to be sure they were going to a good home.  From then on we became very good friends.

Here, we’d lived just a few blocks away in Essex Junction for years and it was the puppy that finally got us together. It’s been said that Lhasas bring good luck and we know it’s true!

After that we saw Gramma Pat (which is what she called herself) quite often because Humphrey made his second home there when we were out of town or for grooming, etc.  We all just loved her and will miss her dearly, especially Humphrey.

We saw her the day before she passed at the Respite House and could tell that Humphrey sensed something was not the same.  It was like he knew something wasn’t right.

After we left that night and said our goodbyes we kissed her good night, told her we loved her and she said she loved us too.  The following morning we got the news that she passed away.  It left us very sad but also with many good memories and of course we have Humphrey to remind us of Gramma Pat every day.

“He just followed the love”

From Maryjean:

We only had the pleasure of knowing Pat for the past 5 years, through purchasing (well, really adopting!) our lhasa apso from her.

Right from our first phone conversation, I understood that she was a woman of principle, great strength, and a wonderful sense of humor.  Anyone who was at her home while she was trying to talk over the dogs’ barking remembers her saying, “Excuse me!” to quiet the dogs, who would pipe down for about a minute and then slowly build up their commentary again until again she’d say again, “Excuse me!”

Pat often laughed about how Bill had thought he was just getting his wife a little dog, but when she saw Bill driving with Humphrey in his arms, it was obvious to her that Humphrey had become his dog.  She knew that would happen, she’d seen it before.

We brought Humphrey to Pat for grooming every now and then and enjoyed conversations about village politics, economics, neighbors, family, and of course, lhasas. She knew so much and was always willing to share her knowledge.

And, when we came to see her at the nursing home, Pat was very pleased to see her dogs, who marched right up the bed and onto her chest to say hello.

She had wanted to see if Humphrey could find his way to her, and so last month, I tried it. I let him go right at the door of the home, a long way from Pat’s room. He peeked in all the rooms and knew exactly where Pat was! I think he just followed the love.

We’ve read all the stories about Pat and what comes through for us is that we all knew a wonderful person who made a big difference in our lives. And, we were vey lucky to have met her. We’ll miss Pat Collier very much.

“Pat was gracious and humble”

From Nancy:

I first met Pat about two years ago when I was looking for a Lhasa.  On our first phone call, we just connected and from that moment on, I have held the greatest respect for Pat and for what she has done for the Lhasa breed.

I was thrilled when I made the trip from Connecticut to Pat’s home in Vermont and she allowed me to get one of her available pups who is now Rudy (parents are Chynna and Ted E. Bear). Pat and I have spoken about twice a week since then to discuss Rudy’s accomplishments and life and her Lhasas.

In the Fall of 2008, Pat invited me to go with her to the National Lhasa Show in Mass.  I was truly honored.  We shared a room for three nights and we had a great time and lots of laughs.

My dream has always been to work with a certified therapy dog and Rudy became certified at one year old. We go to the Veterans Home weekly and Rudy is like a celebrity. The vets and staff all love him.  I have always told Pat that my dream has come true because of her breeding. She was always so humble about it.

I knew that when I made the trip to Vermont this past weekend that I would not see Pat again. When I was leaving her room, she thanked me for making this trip so special and thanked me for Rudy. Pat was as gracious and humble to the end as she always was.

On the way home, as I was driving up one of the many hills on Vermont Interstate 89, a misty, cloudlike formation in the shape of a dove appeared right in front of my vehicle.  I knew that was a sign that God was calling Pat home and she was at peace.

My dear Pat, I already miss our phone conversations and you will always be in my heart.  You have touched so many people through your own self and your lovely Lhasas.  I am just so grateful that I am one of those people.

Love to you in heaven.

“We never missed a beat”

From Jan and Dean:

I was so sad to hear of Pat’s passing, but I am thankful that she passed so peacefully.

She was such a great friend. Even though we saw each other only once a year at the Lhasa Nationals, it was like we never missed a beat. I thought of her often and was happy to know she made her Register of Merit Breeder goal.

She worked so hard with the dogs and they loved her so. I know her “babies” that passed before her were there to greet her at the Rainbow Bridge.

Take care, and know she is at peace.