A Moment with my Senior Dog

My mom sent this picture to me earlier:

My beautiful 11 year old Shetland Sheepdog and childhood pet, Princess Buttercup, has always been a bit sneaky. This morning, she and her littermate were outside playing in the snow, keeping in mind, my dogs bark A LOT, particularly when they’re running around (a cornerstone of herding dog behavior).
My little sister noticed that they had been very quiet for several minutes. She opened the door to the front stoop to find the two old ladies tearing through the trash bag that had been left on the stairs 20 minutes earlier. Her sister bolted inside and let Buttercup take the blame.
While it’s not the most sanitary or pleasant mess that will have to be dealt with, this picture captures a youthful moment in my baby’s golden years. She has been a member of my family since I was 13. Although she has slowed down quite a bit, and she has her own schedule to go by, seeing a glimpse of that spry, playful puppy I grew up with made my heart swell. She always has been, and always will be, one of my best friends.