Ickey is one of those dogs that rarely ever barks, so when he does, it’s an unusual phenomenon.

Three days ago, as we were walking the dogs, a big cat flashes across someone’s front yard, only to quickly disappear into the foliage. Ickey lets out two booming barks, and goes into high alert – ears high, body tense and alert, and tail up in the air. He pulls on his leash and keeps scanning the neighborhood for that cat again. Ickey is not a dog that normally chases cats, so this is rare behavior for him.

The cat had very similar  coloring to Heidi – black fur mixed with patches of tan and white. We wondered if Ickey, who only has one good eye, thought that cat might have been his sister Heidi and thereby continued to search for her during our walk.

It was a bittersweet thought, as it reminded us of how much we all missed Heidi, but also reminded us how she was not forgotten and continued to live in our hearts.

Ickey, that cat unfortunately wasn’t your sister, but look deeply in your heart, and you will find her forever safe in there.

Ickey and Heidi chewing tennis balls on a sunny day in the backyard, as Michelle waits for her opportunity to pounce