Bertie

"Bertie" Dance Roberta—joined our family in 2012. We drove all the way from Northern Illinois to Knott's Farm in Oklahoma and back to bring her home. She was the runt of her litter, but the moment we saw her, we fell in love. What Bertie lacked in size, she more than made up for in personality. She was full of energy, had a spunky little voice to back it up, and was one of the fastest Corgis we have ever known. She was also an excellent hunter. That wasn't always our favorite quality. Bertie had a particular talent for catching smaller prey, and if she happened to score a recent prize, trying to get it away from her was an exercise in futility. “Bertie! No! Drop it! LEAVE IT!” Unfortunately, Bertie interpreted those commands rather differently than we intended. To her, apparently, they meant: Swallow it. Immediately. And she would. That was Bertie. Smart, stubborn, energetic, mischievous, and completely convinced that she knew what was best. She was also deeply loved.

Forever at the Ranch

In 2023, Bertie passed away unexpectedly. One day she was simply a little sluggish and not quite herself. That night, she passed away peacefully in her sleep. It was sudden. It was heartbreaking. And it was the first time one of our family members passed away here at Handley Ranch. We weren't prepared for how much it would hurt. But Bertie's passing changed something for us. We knew then that the animals who share our lives aren't temporary residents. They're family. And when they leave us, we wanted them to have a place here with us—on the Farm they called home.

So we created the Handley Ranch Pet Cemetery. Bertie was the first member of our family to be laid to rest there. And in a very real way, she became the beginning of something that will remain here long after us.Today, Bertie rests on the Ranch, surrounded by the place and the family she loved. She was tiny. She was fast. She was loud. She was stubborn. She was absolutely, unmistakably Bertie. And she will always be part of Handley Ranch.