Obituary: Iris Leck

Iris left this world on August 14, 2015 after a brief, unexpected illness.

She was born on Mother’s Day, May 13, 2001 in Gilbert, AZ. Seven weeks later, a puppy with a semicircle above her nose bounded over her littermates to greet us and stole our hearts.

Iris lived up to her name, her iridescent personality and charm won the admiration of all who met her. She was also known as The Buffalo and The Dominator. Gregarious, happy, and vocal, she was eager to greet everyone she met: people, especially her neighbors; dogs, cats, squirrels, and bumblebees.

She loved runs and walks, hikes in the mountains, motorcycles, UPS trucks, watermelon, Peeps at Easter, spray whipped cream, sprinklers and the hose, playing tug of war with the leash, squirrels, grooming her sister, birthday pupcakes, and Starbucks pup cups.

Iris was affectionate, loving, caring, sensitive, devoted, and brilliant. She had a sense of humor, she laughed with us when things were funny, she greeted us with a smile every day and knew how to use her paw to her advantage. The entire neighborhood knew when her mom or dad returned from a day of work or a long trip by her announcement at the front door.

Iris was the life of the household, there was never any question about what to do next. She guided our schedule from morning buttrubs to evening walks, and reminded us when it was time for treats and dessert. She was her mom’s constant companion and leg warmer as she worked from home. Iris always knew if there was a camera around, she was ready at any moment to pose for a picture.

Iris loved to cook. She was the household kitchen supervisor and had to know what was going on at all times. Iris was a video and media star, playing the lead role and featured in several cooking videos, the film version of The Most Interesting Dog in the World, and The Daily Buffalo newsletter chronicling her life with her sister as puppies.

She is survived by her mom Alene and dad Dennis, her sister Isabelle, grandparents, and many cousins, uncles and aunts in Arizona, California and Colorado, and the hedgehog, snake, scorpion, duck, hamburger, wahoo ball, “the fris”, and other well-chewed toys.

Iris taught us all a lesson in how to live our lives: with joy and adventure every day. To quote her sister Isabelle, “The only thing better than an Australian Shepherd is two Australian Shepherds!”

Please leave a comment or share your memories of Iris on her mom’s (Alene Nitzky) Facebook page, or here on her mom’s blog at www.alenegonebad.blogspot.com.