Thursday, July 19, 2007

Jack of Hearts

On Wednesday July 18, 2007, Jack crossed the Rainbow Bridge. We knew his time was near, as did Jack. He had been weakening for several months, but kept surprising us by acting like the puppy he could never be again. The last few months have been tough for all of us. Jack was a highly regarded member of the family and will not be forgotten. If you visited us at home, you also visited Jack, and he let you know that this was also his home.


Dr Michael Marks has been Jack's doctor for several years and has treated him for many of his ailments. He was gentle and kind with Jack, and Jack responded yesterday by 'nosing' his hand as he looked for a vein, not in an agressive way, as he normally would, but as if to say, "it's OK Doc". I held Jack as he slowly drifted off to sleep. Both Dr Marks and I were silent for awhile as Jack finally felt peace and no pain.


Jack came to us in December 1991. John rescued him from being 'disposed of'' in Plant City. He was quite a clumsy puppy of about 8 to 12 months old. His legs were much longer than the body that went with them. But he started to grow and soon those legs were racing around the yard trying to catch the mailman at both ends of the house. A bout with Heart Worm and the serious treatment that cures it could not stop him. Jack lived to the ripe old age of 16 years. I don't know what that adds up to in a dogs life, but it certainly made him a senior citizen.