pets – S'amusing

Smaller Bananas: A Dog Story

jake

“1, 2, 3 for me, 1 for Jake”

This isn’t a story about bananas, it’s about a dog, our dog, Jake, ‘the king of all dogs’.

I mention bananas because Jake and I ‘bonded’ over bananas every morning. For every 3 slices of banana I dropped on my cereal, Jake got 1. He stood by, waiting and salivating, while I sliced and counted each piece into our respective bowls: “1, 2, 3 for me, 1 for Jake”. Then, he waited for my signal to enjoy it.

Jake has been gone a couple of weeks and we’re still discarding his ‘stuff’: beds, toys, treats, things that bring a tear to our eyes. Some of it we donated to our local animal shelter.

I still find clumps of shedded hair when I clean house. It moves between my fingers and I feel his presence; the softness of his coat and the smells of his oils. The attachment to a pet is incredibly strong and letting it go is difficult, but we’re making progress.

Our decision to euthanize Jake at the appropriate time, if there is such a time, was challenging and heart breaking. Outwardly, a dog may not show his aches and pains, but the look in Jake’s eyes told us he was hurting. His mind was willing but his body wasn’t, the end of his life was imminent.

‘The Last Battle’* is a poem that tells the story of a dog’s final wish. The dog reminds us that we’ve shared a wonderful life, a life filled with love, and our final act of love would be to help the dog pass, peacefully.

We loved Jake and made that decision to end his suffering, humanely. Pet owners face this decision with heavy hearts. Jake came to us as a nervous young rescue from a local shelter. He left us in a calm and peaceful state, cradled in the arms of my wife, his constant companion.

We take solace in knowing that our rescue eleven years ago afforded Jake a chance to live a happy, normal dog’s life. In return, he gave us his love, warmth, kindness and loyalty. We mourn his loss now and will remember him always as ‘the king of all dogs’.

I’m still having a morning banana, but buying smaller ones that I can finish, myself…

Steve
srbottch.com

To Jake the Dog, and dog lovers everywhere

jake-n-cheryl-walking

*The Last Battle
(1st stanza)
Author Unknown

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this — the last battle — can’t be won.
You will be sad I understand,
But don’t let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

Barney, A Eulogy (2005)

On April 7 (2005), our dog Barney was put to rest. My wife and I said our last goodbyes to Barney, and while we’re saddened by our loss, we’re comforted by wonderful memories of good family times we had with him and iknowing that he enriched our lives by being our special pet.

We devoted more time to Barney the last few months doing activities we all enjoyed: long treks on favorite trails through the woods; walks around the Erie Canal; playing in the back yard. We did as much as his stamina allowed, and he loved it. He enjoyed being with us and we cherished his companionship and affection.

Barney was a friend to all. He anticipated the mail carrier’s daily stop and biscuit treat. Like a magnet, he drew the Helping Hands boy to the back of our van when groceries were being loaded. He eagerly welcomed visitors to our house with an extended paw and a good sniffing. The neighborhood kids enjoyed his willingness to be petted, the warmth and tenderness of his thick fur and strong body and the love behind an occasional kiss. People learned not to be afraid of Barney and that his enthusiastic approaches were his way of saying,”C’mon, let’s touch!”

Barney would watch us through the window when we left and welcome us at the door upon our return. He would wait in the car to meet our son and daughter at the airport on their trips home, and bound up the stairs into their bedrooms to see what was new in their bags. He taught them to put away their clothes or risk having their undies dragged through the house.

Barney was a constant companion to my wife, keeping her in sight as she worked her garden, or following her from room to room. At night, he lay at her bedside. He loved being with her in the kitchen where the good treats and special smells were. She would talk and Barney would listen. The carrots, creamed spinach, broccoli and sliced bananas were but a few of his gourmet rewards. My wife was Barney’s exerciser through the walks they took and the backyard games they played.

This summer, we’ll dedicate a concrete square to Barney’s memory. It’ll be added to others in our backyard walkway as a remembrance. It may take its place near our first dog’s marker. And in a few words, the stone will attest to what a wonderful dog Barney was. Or, it may say how he will always be remembered. For me, he was the ‘King of All Dogs.’ I often reminded him of that. And he was the King to the final moment of his precious life.

Barney scrambled in and out of our arms as a furry, energetic 6 week old puppy when we adopted him 11 years ago. And he’ll be in our hearts for a lifetime. We love you, Barney. You were a great family dog.

SrBottch

Written 5/1/2005 and published in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, “My Life, My Words”

I dedicate this story to all pet lovers and especially those who have experienced the sadness of losing one of their own special ‘friends’.

Jake the Dog, His Story

August 14 was a momentous day for me. I received a reprieve on life, moved to a new home and was embraced with open arms and scratching behind my ears by my new adoptive owners.

Jake's Story

My name is Jake. I’m a young adult dog with Great Dane and black Labrador bloodlines, which makes me both tall and handsome. I’m big on kissing and loved to be hugged. I’m well-trained. I’m the real deal, the complete package. All that my new owner has to do is feed, exercise and love me. And they do, with gusto. I’m a lucky dog, and I love my new digs.

It wasn’t always this pleasant. I had a nice home until I was given up by my owners and moved to a new place in the city, where I was kept in a cage surrounded by a mishmash of barking, howling and whining dogs. Soon, I found myself falling into the same behavior. And talk about turnover. It was difficult to make friends because the few dogs I could see didn’t stay long enough to get acquainted.

It didn’t take me long to realize that the barking, howling and whining was a call for help. When my owners never returned, I knew that my days were probably numbered, too. I needed to clear my head and come up with a plan. I resolved to look smart and act friendly when visitors came by to pass judgment and make their selection as to which of us would go home with them and which would stay to keep barking, howling and whining. I got lucky.

Now, I couldn’t be happier with my new owners. They’re experienced dog lovers and even had teenagers at one time, so I know they’re capable. We’re very happy with each other. Yet, I’m sad when I think about what may have been the fate of the animals I left behind.

They say that a dog is a man’s best friend. All of us surely can be if given the chance in a caring home. I have that chance now and am making the best of it. It would be nice to know that other like-minded pet owners-to-be will adopt a dog from a pound, too. You’ll find the world’s greatest dog there. My owners did. And you’ll feel so good about saving the life of an animal, a new companion who will always be there to love you.

srbottch

Oct 16, 2005

Dedicated to all pet owners who love and care for their animals