Our Beloved Jake

by Francine Nault
(Mountain, ON Canada)

When your owner died in a car accident, the family was going to put you to sleep because they didn't want you to be mistreated, that's how much they cared about you. But before taking action, I was approached to adopt you because I always had a dog and I love animals so much.

I agreed, even without seeing you, and on July 14th, 2003 I brought you home. You were one year old. You were so cute and excited. You visited every room of the house, and we finally cuddled. When my husband Jim came home you barked at him just like you did at me when you first saw me.

The next day we took you to our cottage where you could run all you wanted and chased squirrels up the trees. You found a big and hollow tree branch about a foot long with 2 holes on a side where other branches used to be. We called it your stump. You'd put your head inside of it and come up the hill wobbling because it was so heavy. Then you would push it down the hill and growl at it and repeat the same scenario all day long.

To throw a pinecone in the lake was your fun to retrieve it. And when you were frog hunting amongst the weeds, we could hear the flick a flock of you walking back and forth, hunting.

You gave us a big scare when you got sick and we had to take you to the vet and you needed an operation to remove two pieces of heavy plastic about the size of a tooney and you had 11 stitches on your belly.

When I went away, you slept with my slippers on the couch, which was your bed, and you brought them back to me when I came home and requested a treat.

About two years ago or more, you were diagnosed with a tumor in your belly. You have been so courageous, never whining, still playing like a puppy, eating very well (I couldn't keep you out of the kitchen) and you always did your business outside even to the end in this darn cold winter and you with no fat left, just skin and bones. You never complained.

I noticed now that your eyes are sad and your body is always trembling and you sleep a lot so we think it's time for us to put you at rest and relieve you of all your pains. We will miss you so much. I will miss kissing you and petting you.

We Love you, Jake, and will forever remember you.