Australian Shepherds/How I met my Aussie best friend!

My best friend and gal-pal Merlin first came into my life one day in the form of an extremely full-of-energy bundle of soft multi-colored fur, and the bluest eyes I'd ever seen. My heart was stolen that day, and I never looked back.
I had been looking for a puppy for our family (which consisted of my son and I), for a while. The fact was I couldn't afford a pure-bred puppy, and didn't want an adult dog as it might have some behavioural problems and I had a child to think worry about. I had scoured the classified hoping to find someone giving away puppies, and the local Animal Shelter had nothing....lots of kittens, but no dogs.
Then someone told me to look outside the local area, and I called an Animal Shelter a few miles out of town. They had a few puppies! The lady I spoke to ran the place and was very welcoming. She told me to come and take a look, stay as long as I liked and "get to know them" a little. I was thrilled, and rushed over there to see them.
I got a tour of the shelter, and found it very well run, and as it was a summer's day...they put a huge cage out on the lawn, and the puppies ran around inside while I sat on the grass and talked to this one and that. One female dog had just had a litter of puppies, and they were still too young to leave their mother, but Mom proudly came to show us her litter of little white pups.
I found out that two more of their puppies were found at the side of the road in a cardboard box, they thought they were Australian Shepherds. Not sure why they would be abandoned? Possibly they weren't pure-bred? Their tails weren't docked, but otherwise they seemed pure-bred to look at them. They were estimated by the vet. to be about 3 months old.
One was a warm brown color with a white chest, and the other was a "blue merle" variety...mainly gray, black and white, with a little brown on her paws and muzzle. She had beautiful blue eyes (one with a little brown in it), and the black spots on her fur that gave her an odd leopard-look! Her gray fur at the time was a pale gray, sort of fuzzy...but later it would turn a darker gray and she'd lose the spots.
Her brother was more demure and quiet, but she was definitely the one that was full of life and energy...running around like a mad thing, seeming very happy and excited to see us! It was a no-brainer for me...she was the one!

I wished I could've taken both her and her brother, but I couldn't afford two dogs at the time. Though I called my neighbour (a dog lover) and tried to talk her into taking the other sibling, to no avail. I hope someone kind took the other puppy home. The lady who ran the shelter said that she never puts dogs to sleep simply because they can't find a home right away, instead they become "shelter dogs" and live there forever if need be. Usually though someone comes along to adopt them she said, and that made me feel better about splitting up the pair.
I took Merlin home that day, with some dog food and her blanket....the best $40 I'd ever spend!

Sadly Merlin has passed on now, a day I can't think of without tears coming to my eyes, even though it has been several years since she left this Earth. I'll always love you Merlin...this is my tribute to the joy you brought into my life.