Dog breed: The Border Collie 8/10

Gemstone was a Border Collie. Born in 1987, she became a police trained, professional guard dog. At the tender age of three, she had a vocabulary of approximately 250 words and phrases or the equivalent of a 6 year-old-child. Gem continued to add to her vocabulary as she grew older.

Gem had a different bark for every person she came in contact with. She would track children by both scent and name and would differentiate between children. She would track a lost child through the woods and not give up until her quarry was found.

At age four, a request for Gem's purchase was made from Walt Disney Studios at Orlando Florida, to make a film. The request was denied because of her profession.

Saving lives was not limited to tracking though, since Gem would swim to give aid to a person in the ocean. She would physically haul children away from highways and keep them safe, until help came. Gem would go for help when children became caught amongst tree branches. She would comfort wild ducklings and protect them from fox, until their mother returned.

Gemstone died at the ripe old age of eighteen. One day she just stopped. She fought to live but lost the battle eventually. Gone but not forgotten.