I just joined this site..I am a collie breeder. I live in Canada.
I was particularly "touched" and became teary eyed as I read of your collie Gypsy. Sometimes our chums bond very strongly with one another...I too have a collie named Gypsy..almost two years ago, I recieved a phone call telling me one of my collies was in a very "bad" way. The collie was Gypsy's litter brother Dino. I made arrangments to have him returned to me..the people who had him, rather then notifying me they had decided to not keep Dino..simply handed him off to strangers! Fortunately for Dino..the 'strangers' were well meaning and did TRY to look after him, but they two fell on "bad times" and they had to give him up. Another lady who had for over a year (prior to his being given away by the people I THOUGHT still had him) had observed the long dreadful months (nearly two years actually) of neglect and horrible loneliness that the big gentle collie had endured (unbeknown to ME) The 'strangers' he had been given too we about to give him to a farm home. This lady (THANK GOD) intervened. She managed to find out I was his breeder and she got in touch with ME!!
Dino returned..he was in dreadful shape..dirty and matted,nearly crippled with arthritis (he was only 7 1/2 years old at the time), the kind strangers who had him didn't know how to groom the mats out and though they tried brushing him..they only managed to address the surface of his coat..not all the way to the skin. Plus they were old and just didn't have the strength to bath him nor could they afford a groomer apparently.
Gypsy remembered Dino instantly though she had not seen him in over 2 years.
Dino remembered her and ME
I know Gypsy is more bonded to ME then she is to Dino (thank GOD) and he is more bonded to me then to his sister..but they do care deeply for each other as well.
When the day comes, and I must say "farewell" to one of them..I will make sure the other has a chance to have closure. I know whichever one is left behind..will grieve but will overcome the grief..still it will be hard, on both of us.
Many years ago, I knew a pair of GSDs who were bonded like your sweet Gypsy and dear Buck. When her mate was killed by a car..right in front of her eyes..the female, even though she 'knew' what happened grieved so deeply she just gave up. Like your Gypsy she would not eat..but she did drink..she howled piteoulsy day after day...finally one week later, she joined her mate. They found her in the kitchen..head across her paws lying in the same 'spot' that had been HIS in life.
Dogs as we know are capable of GREAT love and loyalty, few humans have this capacity for love..but SOME do.
I am so sorry..this is so very hard on you..to lose one chum is heart breaking..to lose two within days of each other..I can't even imagine how much sorrow this has caused. Darlene