My first mini Aussie - How it all began

Its a spring morning in 2001, I was sitting in the grandstands at a horse show watching my older sister show her young appaloosa stud colt Izzy. As I was sitting there I saw this woman walking the cutest little dog I had ever seen! I was pretty shy about talking to strangers back then but I couldn’t help myself, I had to ask her about her dog. She told me her dog Daisy was a 14” red merle mini Aussie! I knew of standard Aussies & loved the breed but had never seen or heard of a mini Aussie before, I was instantly in love with her dog.

Fast forward about a year, its winter of 2002 & my mother calls me into the living room of our small farm house. There was a woman standing there talking to my mother & she had a small dog with her, my eyes got huge as I realized it was Daisy! the little mini Aussie I had met at the horse show a year ago, I was confused, why was this lady here with this dog? & that’s when I looked down to see three little mini Aussie puppies! My mom asked me what I thought of Dasiy’s cute puppies, with a confused look on my face, I told her they were adorable! my mother continued to talk to Daisy’s owner as my brother & I played with the puppies, still not understanding why they were here. Then out of nowhere my mother said “well, did you pick one?” I looked up thinking she may have been talking to my brother, or maybe I missed some part of a conversation? but that’s when she looked me in the eye & said “Teagan, pick whichever puppy you like” I started to tear up, I was completely blindsided! To this day I’m not sure if my mother knew just how much I was struggling as a teen at that time & how much I needed a little companion dog. All three puppies were so beautiful but it wasn’t hard to choose, Ziggy was so tiny & unique, I had a instant connection with her. My whole life changed after that day, Ziggy was my best friend & helped me overcome so many struggles in my life, I don’t know what I would have done without her by my side for all those years.

Ziggy was loved by all who knew her, she was the most loving & loyal dog I have ever known, she was the kind of dog you didn’t have to utter a word to, she knew how you were feeling & what you wanted before you even had a chance, she was already doing what needed to be done to make you smile. Ziggy is no longer by my side & I miss her dearly, but she is still warming my heart & blessing our lives with her presences in each & everyone of her beautiful grandchildren. Her grandson Rigby is just like her, he lives to be by my side & make me smile everyday. I have been truly blessed with an amazing little angel. ~ Teagan Zavita 12/4/18