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For the love of Jack

New Year without Jack

How strange it was not being with my family at Christmas this year. I love the Rainbow Bridge very much and being with Lee and all the other dogs, but at this time of year especially I miss mom, dad, Aaron, Shelby, Winchester, Remington, and even Shiloh!! I always loved Christmas because we had lots of company and I got lots of attention and treats.

I know my dad is still very sad and blames himself for what happened to me. Dad, it's not your fault I had the seizure--I've had them all my life. This was a bad one and the shot didn't stop it. Since Dr. Melton was not available, there was nothing else you could do but give me another one. After that I just went to sleep--it didn't hurt after that. I know you also are upset that you had to go back to work and weren't here when I finally passed on to the Bridge, but Dad, I know how much you loved me (and Mom too) and you did all you could and it was my time. Dad, if you cry, let it be happy tears of all the good times and great memories we had as I was your "little Jack".
You gave me a chance that no one else would have given me for a wonderful 7 years and please don't ever forget that. Lee and I will never stop loving you and we will wait for you at the Bridge some day when it is your time.
I hope your Christmas was a good one.
Love, your "little Jack"

12/6/06 And now he's gone

Boy, it happens suddenly. Our little Jack is gone! If you don't know much about Jack, he is our little Pembroke Welsh Corgi that was given to us 7 years ago because he had crooked feet. After we got him we found out that he also had seizures, and through the years we suffered with him through those awful episodes. The last couple of years, they had been farther and farther apart and less severe until today.....

I heard our dogs going crazy at the house from my office. I finally went to investigate and found Jack seizuring on the porch. This was the grandaddy of them all--30 plus minutes without letup. I gave him a shot that I had just for the bad ones, and for the first time it had no effect. I called Dr. melton to see what would happen if I gave him another one. Dr. Melton was out on a call, so instead of watching him die of a seizure in front of me, I gave him another shot. Quickly the seizure lessened and in a few minutes he was panting heavily but no seizures. I carried him inside, put him on his bed in the dark kitchen, and Linda and Kevin came to check on him, since I had a meeting at school. Kevin left him sleeping around 2:00; Linda had returned to work. She called me around 3:45 from home--Jack was dead! It was all too much for the little dog with the big heart--even that big heart could only take so much.

He was a joy to us--never, never, never cross about anything--sooooo good natured, and suffered through these episodes through the years very bravely without complaint. Jack loved everybody, dog and human.
Now his little bowl stands empty. Tomorrow he was going to walk in the Christmas parade with his antlers----

Instead his body lies beside Lee, under the old pear tree. We wrapped him in a 101 Dalmation sheet with his toys, his collar and some treats. Just at dark, with Christmas lights twinkling all around, we petted his beautiful soft brown fur one last time, laid him in and covered him up.

Now he and his buddy Lee are running together again like crazy at the Rainbow Bridge. Lee has waited patiently for his best friend.

Shelby is really upset, the others also know he's gone, but Shelby is the one that is obviously missing him, but not any more than Linda and Aaron and me.

There's not enough space or time to pay him a proper tribute--he was just our little Jack, brave and loved til the end. There was never a time that we did not love him with all our hearts.