2:00 PM. Thursday, October 23, 2025. Sparkle Madsen crossed peacefully over the Rainbow Bridge held in the loving arms of Miah and me, surrounded by her brother Magic and sister Glimmer. She was 14 years and 8 months old.
A purebred Border Collie, Sparkle was born on Tuesday, February 15, 2011, at Meronk's Farm in Amherst, WI. The only Blue Merle in Daisy and Cooter's litter, her unique coat pattern suggested she was a rarity from the start—her soul’s purpose was to bring transformative influence to the family she would join.
Miah and I first met Sparkle on Sunday, April 3, 2011. Lying in the middle of the whelping pen, her full round belly and mostly pink nose gave her the appearance of a piglet. Miah picked her up and held her in the crook of his arms, gazing into her light blue eyes. In that moment, their bond was formed, and 7-week-old Sparkle was chosen for adoption. A week later, on Saturday, April 9, we repeated the two-hour trek north to collect our puppy and begin our life together.
Things began clumsily as we figured out her feeding and potty schedule. She had a peculiar habit of squatting at the very edge of the curb, teetering on her tippy toes. Images of her falling into the street and into oncoming traffic filled me with distress.
Sparkle's puppyhood pack consisted of the two of us—her "Mama" and "Daddy"—and two cat siblings, Birdie and Zarky. Birdie was the alpha, and Sparkle was a curious observer of Birdie's fluffy yellow-orange coat. On many occasions, Birdie's scratches marred Sparkle's perfect tiny snout. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Zarky welcomed her with no apprehension, quickly accepting her and casually sleeping nearby.
I was both thrilled and terrified about being a new dog owner and diligently read several books about Border Collies. The breed was not recommended for novices. But Miah wanted a high-energy companion who could join him on runs. Sparkle would need significant exercise and mental stimulation to avoid developing destructive behaviors. To mitigate these risks, I took on the role of primary trainer. We attended weekly obedience classes. I learned the virtues of patience and repetition, and Sparkle learned how to be a good dog.
My favorite place to train her was at Yahara Park, just after dusk, beside the peaceful scenery of Lake Monona. Sparkle was eager to learn and quick to grasp new commands—often after only two attempts. Her best trick was “Get the remote,” retrieving the TV remote and bringing it to me or Miah. I also taught her “Get the towel” from the kitchen rack, though she had a tendency to whip her head wildly during its retrieval. “Get the towel” was more of a party trick. “Get the remote” was a practical job she performed often.
For the first 10 months of Sparkle’s life, we rented a two-story house with a small, unfenced yard. She couldn’t explore freely off-leash, so we took her to dog parks as soon as she was fully vaccinated. This exposed her to strangers and other dogs. She was exceptionally shy and submissive, and we didn’t yet know how to help her.
Just before her first birthday, we bought our first house, located one neighborhood east of our rental. It was perfect for a dog—a single story on a lot and a half, with a fenced-in backyard. We moved in at the beginning of February 2012. On the morning of her birthday, Miah took Sparkle for a run. Somehow, she squirmed out of her collar and sprinted into the street and out of sight, nearly being hit by a car. Miah came home to get me, and in a panicked rush, we drove around the neighborhood calling her name. Eventually, we spotted her. I stopped the car and got out slowly, calling her sweetly, arms spread wide. She ran to me—thank goodness—and I scooped her up and took her home.
We wondered if she was trying to get back to the old house or simply asserting her autonomy. Either way, after that event, we began noticing Sparkle had a willful and determined personality. She demanded attention whenever she wasn’t asleep and never wanted to stop playing. We had to keep her toys in a basket out of sight after play sessions or she wouldn’t stop obsessing over them. It was also around this time that we discovered her love and talent for Frisbee.
Her other great joy was swimming. She was first introduced to water at Lake Kegonsa State Park Dog Beach in summer 2012. That same summer, we spent a weekend with friends at a cabin on Green Lake. The property had a boat dock, and Sparkle learned to leap off the dock into the water.
Miah absolutely loved seeing the joy on her face—jump after jump. That weekend was also our first family excursion, sleeping somewhere other than our house. Sparkle slept in bed with us, even though our friends had put a dog bed on the floor for her. Sparkle was not a dog-bed dog. As soon as she was fully potty and obedience trained, she slept with Mama and Daddy.
As Sparkle grew, her blue eyes turned a brilliant amber-gold, and her merle darkened. She stared at us with an intensity so deep it felt like she could see into our souls—or perhaps read our minds. This earned her the teasing nickname “Crazy Eyes.”
At age two, she still reacted to new situations and visitors with a meek and fearful presence, so we signed her up for an 8-week Shy Dog Class. The class worked a little too well. An independent vivaciousness emerged, and Sparkle was now ready for a life full of people and play.
Around this time, Sparkle became big sister to 8-week-old Border Collie puppy Magic, who joined the pack in March 2013. Birdie and Zarky had moved on by then, and we wanted Sparkle to have a sibling of the same breed. After Magic joined the family, the era of our canine household truly began. We built our traditions and learned how to give Sparkle and Magic the best lives possible, thriving in the joy of the present.
As soon as Magic was old enough to go for runs with his daddy, we noticed Sparkle’s lack of enthusiasm when it was her turn. We took the hint—she wasn’t a runner. Instead, she became my walking buddy. Nearly every night, we walked four to five miles after dinner. She never did become the destructive dog I had feared.
Just before her third birthday, Sparkle accompanied her daddy on a road trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico. She played Frisbee in every state they drove through. While in Albuquerque, she stepped on a cactus prickle that took her by surprise. She limped patiently until Miah saw the problem and gently pulled it out. Sparkle never felt sorry for herself or cried out in pain. The only exception was when she had surgery to correct a recessed lady part that had caused frequent urinary tract infections. She had nearly 30 stitches and whimpered in pain after we brought her home from the hospital. The surgery was a success, and she never struggled with those infections again. She simply wanted to keep playing.
Sparkle also experienced two boutique hotel stays during her lifetime. She traveled to La Crosse, WI, and spent two nights at The Charmont Hotel. During her stay, she walked through the famous Rotary Lights display at Riverside Park and gazed out over the Mississippi River.
Another time, she was unexpectedly whisked out of her house and spent three nights in downtown Madison's Hotel Indigo. This surprise “staycation” was the result of a wasp infestation that required the house to be vacant while pest control treated the nest and rid the home of the dangerous insects. Sparkle and Magic took to their temporary home like seasoned travelers. They quickly learned their new routine of taking the elevator down to the Pet Relief Area. Other guests were delighted by their presence and complimented their obedience. Many also commented on Sparkle’s intense gaze—she was “Crazy Eyes,” after all.
Sparkle and Magic attended Camp K9 Doggie Day Camp on Tuesdays and Fridays from October through April each winter. This gave her a job and purpose during the colder months when we couldn’t walk as far or as often.
However, when Sparkle entered her senior years around age nine, Day Camp informed us that she was herding and picking on some of the other dogs and imposing on their fun. It would be best if she only came to Camp one day a week. We understood without insult. Sparkle had a knack for being “The Fun Police.” We chose to pull her from daycare completely. She had a tendency to act as teacher's pet and had become too serious about patrolling the yards and redirecting misbehaving playmates.
Her birthdays were celebrated with excursions, new toys, Doggie Daycare parties, and birthday cake. Without fail, she would try to eat the whole cake in one bite. She was a ferocious eater and had a special affinity for the tiny loaves made of peanut butter, honey, shredded carrots, and topped with cream cheese. One year, we took her to an indoor pool in Janesville so she could swim in the middle of winter. Years later, we found a closer, larger pool in DeForest. We rented it for an hour, and Sparkle and Magic had a blast jumping and swimming inside the warm oasis while the frigid winds of mid-February raged outside. Another year, we signed her up for a BarkBox subscription. It wasn’t very long—only six months—but it was just enough for Sparkle to become obsessed with every package shipped to the house thereafter.
Despite being a Border Collie, Sparkle wasn’t a morning dog. She was always sluggish at the start of the day—maybe that’s why she disliked running so much. She liked to eat her breakfast and then rest for hours before any activity. She would press up against me on the couch as I drank my morning coffee and would stay firmly planted there long after I got up to shower and prepare for the day.
She dressed as a stegosaurus every Halloween and paraded around the neighborhood with Magic, hearing kids and parents exclaim, “Oh look! Dinosaurs!” and getting treats from houses that gave out biscuits.
At Christmas, she wore cheerful costumes that brought smiles to everyone’s faces and never stopped trying to unwrap each person’s presents—not just her own.
She guarded the house vigilantly, using her high-pitched “danger” bark to alert us whenever a stranger was approaching.
Sparkle had different bonds with Miah and me. Miah was her best playmate. She would stare at him for hours, willing him to entertain her. They played Frisbee in the backyard, at nearby parks, and school playgrounds. On cold or rainy days, they played “Find It” in the house. He would hide her toys and release her to find them. She spotted them on the tops of doors, in the sink, behind furniture, and other inconspicuous places.
In the summer, she was his river rat, sometimes visiting the Yahara River five days a week to swim her heart out. She and Magic would compete to retrieve floating toys. If Magic got there first, Sparkle would swipe the toy from him, triumphant in her steal.
Her bond with me was one of nervous system regulation and routine. At the end of each day, we would lie on the couch and snuggle, Sparkle settled comfortably with her head on my chest. In bed, we slept face to face, noses touching. I fell asleep to the soft breeze of Sparkle breath on my face. Because I’m a restless sleeper, I often woke in the middle of the night. Sparkle would wake up too and cover my face with kisses as I tried to fall back asleep. There was nothing better than middle-of-the-night Sparkle kisses.
She always wanted to be involved in whatever we were doing. She even learned my physical therapy exercises with me and would mimic my movements. Miah captured a photo showing our unique relationship. This became my absolute, all-time, favorite image.
Sparkle ensouled the body of a Border Collie, but she was so much more than a dog. Her life force was vivid and bright. She came in, willed everything to happen, and crushed it. Her soul never lost its luster, but her body wore down with time.
As Sparkle neared the final years of her life, we decided to add to our pack. Golden Retriever puppy Glimmer Hope joined the family at the end of November 2023. That same weekend, Sparkle suffered a neurological event that resulted in Idiopathic Vestibular Disease, leading to balance and coordination problems. For two straight weeks before her 13th birthday, she could not walk. Miah patiently guided her through rehabilitation, taking her to acupuncture and physical therapy. It took many months, but eventually Sparkle could play again—though not quite the same.
We believe she knew we weren’t ready for her to go and wanted to live as the Madsen Five for a while longer. So she fought through the vestibular episodes. She walked with a stiff wobble and had a near-constant head tilt, but Sparkle held on as the leader of the pack.
Her 13th summer was lively, filled with swimming outings at Devil’s Lake and Lake Mendota at Governor Nelson State Park. But her 14th summer was slower, as her vestibular worsened and her body grew tired. She maintained her status as alpha, and we cherished 1 year and 11 months as a 5-Pack.
When summer ended, we sensed Sparkle was trying to tell us she was tired and didn’t want to live in her worn-out body anymore. She believed we were safe now and had learned the lessons she was meant to teach us: patience, presence, compassion, and kindness. Living for the moment and getting your needs met.
Sparkle wanted to be back in spirit so she could play again. So, with the aid of veterinarian-assisted euthanasia, we helped her cross peacefully and calmly in the quiet of our home. It was the softest, kindest passing, and we are blessed that Sparkle lived so intentionally for such a long time.
Sparkle’s physical presence will be deeply missed. But with a light as bright as hers, we know she will never leave us completely. She has simply crossed to another plane of existence where she can swim in crystal-clear waters, run free, catch her Frisbees, and fly.
End of 24 - The Influential Life of Sparkle Madsen