We lost Jack last weekend. He was a sweet old soul. Everyone who met him loved him. His story was not as tragic as many I’ve seen but he went through his share of neglect and confusion. I rescued him about 8 yrs ago and found what I thought was a perfect forever home. I was wrong. He came back to me finally a year ago and we began the search for a new forever home. But he was already a senior by all accounts and I knew it would be difficult. While we looked and waited for just the right person he made himself at home and I fell in love with him all over again. He was well behaved and trustworthy. He loved helping me with my yard work. He protected the car while I unloaded the groceries. All he really wanted to do was to spend time with you. The thing he loved best, however, was to give hugs and hold paws. Those big paws and those big, soft eyes just melted your heart.
Then one day Elizabeth came along and Jack found his forever home. Elizabeth only adopts older pets and she had fallen in love with him. Jack was good with cats and Jack fit the bill. So on October 4th Jack went to his new home. He loved Elizabeth right away. During the home visit he checked out the house and the cats and shyly checked Elizabeth out. Within 15 minutes he was in her lap and smiling. Dreams of several years of a happy life filled my head. He would be happy now. He would be spoiled. He would get all the love and affection he so craved and would give it back to her with abandon.
Three days after his adoption, Jack had a cough. Thinking that he had a cold, Elizabeth took him to the vet. It wasn’t a cold. It was lymphoma and it had spread to his lungs. We were devastated. The vet gave him a week to live.
Three days after his adoption, Jack had a cough. Thinking that he had a cold, Elizabeth took him to the vet. It wasn’t a cold. It was lymphoma and it had spread to his lungs. We were devastated. The vet gave him a week to live.
Jack, however, had other ideas. Jack was going to live his last days to the fullest and no one and nothing was going to hold him back if he could help it. There were good days and bad days but luckily the good days outweighed the bad days. When he felt good he loved and hugged, held paws with Elizabeth, and danced and pranced with happiness. Three days before he died he began to spend more time in the yard. He even spent one whole night outside worrying his poor mom to death but she gave him what he wanted. Jack was never one to spend a lot of time outside unless his person was with him. Did he know the end was near? Did old friends who crossed the rainbow bridge before him come to visit to tell him how beautiful it was on the other side and that he didn’t have to be afraid? Pet psychics say it is so. I like that idea.
Exactly one month after his adoption he lay down one last time with Elizabeth by his side. He gave her his paw and she held it all night. She watched over him and loved him until he peacefully slipped away in the morning hours.
Sweet boy, you are so missed.”
Exactly one month after his adoption he lay down one last time with Elizabeth by his side. He gave her his paw and she held it all night. She watched over him and loved him until he peacefully slipped away in the morning hours.
Sweet boy, you are so missed.”
