Jamaica

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September 8th 2011 10:00 pm
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My black doggies have come full circle for I am back to Jamaica:)

Shortly after the purchase of our home a lady I worked with mentioned having a friend who was looking for homes for the roley-poley puppies her dog had. The friend lived right in our town of Boulder Creek and with the roley-poley description we had to go see them.

Fur mom was an Australian Shepherd and fur dad was a Chow Chow. These were some truly adorable puppies and roley-poley was accurate to describe them. Although, I did have a little nagging of doubt when checking out this litter of pups. Not one of them wanted to come investigate the humans. So, we picked a pup by choosing the one who broke from the pack to chase a cat. In essence, the one with the highest prey drive!

If my sin with Tammy was indifference and neglect, my sin with Jamaica was ignorance. I truly believed all dogs were born friendly and only human mistreatment caused aggressiveness. I did not put much stock into breed traits. Boy was I to learn a lesson from Jamaica! She had the skittishness of the Aussie and the aloof protectiveness of the Chow. This was one pup who really should have gotten dedicated, deliberate socializing!

Thank God for the one neighbor who showed some interest and affection for her! For that was the only socializing she got. This neighbor, at the time, had two dogs of her own. Along with her own dogs, she not only would walk Jamaica she walked another neighbor's dog, Sadie. Sadie was just a few months older than Jamaica and they made a good pair. Sadie was the clown and Jamaica the nervous nellie. Jamaica was a cherished member of this little pack.

When Jamaica was about 11 months old we brought home our first, and only, child, another time of human selfishness. When we got Jamaica we thought fertility problems were in our future. Had I known we would be having a child in such a short time span I would have held off on the dog. But before she was a year old we became a family of four.

After Tammy, I had made certain promises to myself about my future dogs. A walk twice a day and indoor/outdoor privileges were mandatory along, of course, with regular meals and fresh water. With the help of my husband and neighbor these promises were kept. Jamaica was not a neglected dog in regards to her physical needs.

I call her skittish, aloof and unfriendly. But this was only with strangers. With her family/pack she was loyal, quiet and tolerant. She was never aloof with that one neighbor lady who loved her so. She was quite enthusiastic in greeting her every time she came by. If it wasn’t for Jamaica I might never have known what a special, caring friend I have.

There were times I wondered if we had made a mistake picking out one of those timid, unfriendly pups. But now I understand the real mistake was in not helping her to be a more confident, socialized dog. The mistake was in not even knowing we could help her. The mistake was ignorance.

But enough with the regrets. Jamaica had her furever family and lived her life as a cherished and loved member for 12 years. She thrived in the peace and quiet of the home in the mountains we were able to provide. She loved her doggy pack. She loved us, her family. We weren't perfect, far from it, in fact, but think we did ok and managed to give her a happy life.

Jamaica hated car rides. She also hated going to the vet. Two months after her 12th birthday I noticed blood in her urine. I took her to the vet and explained this was their one shot. If it was a simple, easy to clear up matter we would take care of it. I was quite annoyed that their main priority seemed to be to sell me more heart worm preventative. A week later they wanted her back to draw a direct urine sample. They could have done this at the previous visit. I would not have objected then. We did not return. With her age and temperament I would not put her through more car rides and more veterinary procedures.

Within the month she stopped eating. I called a mobile vet to come out to the house. We let her spirit loose on a beautiful spring day in the outdoors she loved so much.

She was truly a Boulder Creek dog. She rarely left this town during her life. She was born, lived and died here.

Dogsterly yours,
Jamaica & Pepper's humom

Leave A Comment | 11 people already have

Barked by: Logan Benwizzen - 1996 - 2006 (Dogster Member)

September 9th 2011 at 4:48 am

IF only...I can't tell you how many times I have uttered "if only", but we are not allowed to go back and change things that at the time, seemed to make sense. You did your best and she had a wonderful life with you and the family.

Hugs,

Marilynn - Coco, Puffy and Logan's mom

Barked by: Zoe (Dogster Member)

September 9th 2011 at 6:53 am

The right dog, the right time, the right family. That's Jamaica.

Barked by: Zaidie (Dogster Member)

September 9th 2011 at 7:44 am

Yu gave Jamaica a wunnerful life. In da end yu knew whut yu needed tu du cuz yu knew hur like no one else ♥

Barked by: MrJackFreckles~SirLick-a-Lot (Dogster Member)

September 9th 2011 at 8:12 am

I am so glad that you chose Jamaica, cause she sure looked like a doggy to LOVE!

Growlmy made some scans of our 2 'growing up' dogs...
So you Jamaica will be the first to see them:
Blacky (Bushka)
This was the first dog, he lived to be 14, and this pic was taken about age 13.

Blacky (Monster)
This doggy was nicknamed 'Monster' because he really could be, BOL!
But at least he was a loveable one.That pic was taken when he was about 3 or 4 years old, there is no id on the back of the pic...

Woofs!
Have a nice day...
Oh by the way, growlmy gets called Rainbow Lady a lot by one of the residents where she works, because of her uniform...which includes a rainbow colored belt...this lady has a nickname fur evfurryone she meets regularly!
Your name reminded me of that. BOL!

Barked by: Riley (Dogster Member)

September 9th 2011 at 11:15 am

Sometimes the most wonderful things come in simple packages.

Jamaica led a simple life, but it was the most wonderful life to her.

Barked by: LISA P

September 9th 2011 at 12:17 pm

Barked by: Jamaica - A Rainbow Girl (Dogster Member)

September 9th 2011 at 12:20 pm

Hey Logan(Marilynn) & Zaidie, thanks fur the kind barks.

Zoe, you're right, she was the right dog at the right time for us. Although, it didn't always seem so at the time.

MrJack! Thank you so much for sharing your Blackys in Jamaica's diary! I am so honored and touched! They are so beautiful!

Riley, yes, I think she was content with a simple life.

Barked by: Flicka ~ CGC (Dogster Member)

September 9th 2011 at 12:37 pm

Oh....... we all seem to have to learn the hard way dont we.

Maybe that is why "they" come to us... maybe they are our teachers. There is a higher Office at work. I dont have a religion.. but I do know the Arms of the Ones Past hold us.. and guide us.

You gave all.. and got all....... that is a credit paid in full.. no regrets.. and many Blessings.

Mr Jack.. those photos are SO full of love I am shedding tears. BEAUTIFUL......and they remind me of my Lucas !

Hugs and Blessings for all.

Pam

Barked by: Jamaica - A Rainbow Girl (Dogster Member)

September 9th 2011 at 9:25 pm

Pam,

Yes, learn I did and still am and will continue to. Each one has a different lesson to teach.

I love your way with words...the Arms of the Ones Past hold us.. and guide us. I love that. What a beautiful thought.

And I am continually staggered by the generosity of spirit I find here on Dogster. I, too, was moved by Growlmy's Blacky pictures.

Hugs, dear friend,
Lisa

Barked by: MrJackFreckles~SirLick-a-Lot (Dogster Member)

September 9th 2011 at 9:43 pm

Thanks for the kind words about growlmy's Blackys'.
There are furry few pics of them...there were no digital cameras then, let alone PC's...and of course no Dogster to romp in!
Right now, I am under growlmy's chair...that is what Blacky Bushka would do if he was allowed to come in the living room of our home, mostly he was a back porch pup, or in the back yard...he was in my grandpawppy's shop evfurry night...it was his job to guard the store and sound the alarm...and let me tell you he took that job seriously until he got deaf.
The picture you see here is when it was winter and the back porch was too cold to let him be there.

Blacky Monster was full of fun, and energy...being a lab/border collie mix made him super smart, and he sure needed a job...his fave was finding black walnuts in the yard and playing catch me if you can with them...he did not like to fetch...he also stalked squirrels on his belly, just like a trained sheep herding border collie!

Barked by: Jamaica - A Rainbow Girl (Dogster Member)

September 10th 2011 at 7:19 am

Of course, you are welcome, MrJack. It was so nice of Growlmy to share them here. I hope she shares them with your pals on your page, too. You have many more Dogster pals than Jamaica.

I have a hardcopy pic or two of Tammy and maybe Curly, too. I also have some predigital photos of Jamaica. I am hoping to sit down and scan them all in one day. When I do I'll put them on Jamaica's page.

Again, many thanks for the interest in these old, long gone, pups!