Posted on 06/04/2011 4:21:06 PM PDT by infool7
We just had to put our old pal Jasper down. This is pretty much the first time for me and it’s the saddest thing ever. He was our watchdog when the kids were little. We live across from the county jail which has since moved but when we first got Jasper they used to take the prisoners to court in the morning and bring them back around 2:30 in the afternoon. The police often had rounded up a few more criminals and since the jail was already overcrowded they had to release a few around the same time that the bus was dropping off the kids from school. Jasper, a Sheppard Lab mix had a mean streak and I had to convince my wife not to put him down then as he grew to about 110lbs, He always respected me and I was sure that he could get angry at any potential intruder or attacker while I was away working. He always treated the kids well and watched over them without threatening visitors. It seemed even when he slept he had one eye open and his ear propped up like a mini radar dish scanning for any sign of trouble, even squirrels on the deck could not evade his keen senses.
He loved to catch and chase tennis balls, when he was young he could catch em on the fly three to four feet off the ground, even with two already in his mouth. Ok I guess he was a bit intimidating but never to us. We are all going to miss him but I am sure that my Dad is throwing him tennis balls now on the green fields of heaven and Jasper is running jumping and catching them. Sometimes they even make that thwap sound like a baseball that had been thrown hard into a baseball glove. Jasper used to love me to drill him line drives, I really think he was smiling at me, I can still see his bright eyes and face, seemingly saying wanna play? Lets play, we could ya know PLAY!
Working from home the last five years, we had grown even closer, he had developed a habit of going to the sliding door on the deck every time the phone rang. I think it was because the phone is by the door and when my wife would answer it he knew another opportunity to play catch was at hand. I think it took a few years till he got the idea that I wasn’t able to play when the phone rang but he eventually figured out that if he was patient he would get his chance. He also had an amazing ability to balance his tennis ball in the most amazing spots. We had a hot tub on the deck that had a funny angle, if he didn’t set the ball down gently enough it would roll into the tub and everyone would shout gross.
He was smart too. He was our backup door key since he could use his gigantic front paw to pull the bar out of the sliding door to let us in when we had forgotten our key. We never worried that he would let anyone he didn't recognize in, not that anyone would want to continue breaking in seeing his huge snout appear from under the curtain. We had to make several spare keys that will from here to forward be known as Jasper keys.
It seems wrong to be so sad about a pet when its time has come while so many have lost jobs, loved ones, property and sometimes everything in storms, wars and crime that seems so prevalent today but perhaps our own personal suffering can make us more aware of what others are experiencing.
Ohmigosh, is it not the hardest thing to lose a dog? I told the vet he ought to have a padded room for uncontrollable weeping.
I’m really sorry to hear of the loss of your pet. Been three and yes it hurts, a LOT! We have a cat now that is getting older and I dread the day when she too will pass.
Our neighbor lost his dog today, too. His idiot brother took the pug to a trainer (for what I have no idea) and the trainer left the dog in a hot car for at least 4 hours but more likely 6. It stayed at the vet’s over night but died this morning. Such a shame.
Try and comfort yourself with the knowledge that your pet loved you and knew that you loved it, as well.
I’m so sorry.
I've had pets die or had to put them down over the years; cried like a baby each time...
Yes it’s hard being so torn because you know they are suffering and yet put on a brave face because they would do anything for you. We’ve lost a great pal and protector.
“It seems wrong to be so sad about a pet when its time has come while so many have lost jobs,”
No, you loved him, he was valuable to you. There are plenty of things to grieve over.
I explained it to St. Peter,
I’d rather stay here
Outside the Pearly Gate.
I won’t be a nuisance,
I won’t even bark, I’ll be very patient and wait.
I’ll be here, chewing on a celestial bone,
No matter how long you may be.
I’d miss you so much, if I went in alone,
It wouldn’t be heaven for me.
We have the above poem (or something like it) in a frame in a cabinet with photos, collar and the ashes of our old dog Gus. Never to have another dog again as the loss was so hard. (I never understood dog owners grieving so much over a dumb dog until it happened to me!)
I suppose we’ll have to clear out another shelf someday for the dog we have now!
With a tear in my eye, I am forwarding this to my husband who will say “Yep”.
Our boy, Bo, is 11. He is an Akita Inu and looks and acts exactly like the star of Haatchi: A Dog’s Tale. We both bawled like babies watching that one.
All our dogs have been loved and all have been characters, but Bo was a show-up who chose us and, like your wife, I almost sent him away because he was so large and intimidating.
He has been the official greeter for our business and is, in reality, an old softy to his friends, who, by now, include at least half our county.
You were blessed to love Jasper and Jasper will wait for you. If you ever find it in your heart to love another dog, Jasper will just be happy to have another packmate, when the time comes.
Dogs are truly one of God’s gifts to us.
That’s the same thing I said. Some of these so called trainers are abusive. Sad thing is that the dig was a nice dog and didn’t need a trainer. I have to stop thinking about it, it makes me so mad.
Jasper was very lucky he had you.
Condolences on your loss. It is really too bad dogs don’t live longer. When you find a dog that is a prince among dogs, the fact of their passing is almost insufferable.
I still mourn the passing of my American Cocker Spaniel, in February, 1998. Rufus, a red cocker, was 17 years old and had to be put down.
It is because of him that today I have an English Springer Spaniel bitch. She is special in her own way, and every bit as affectionate. Rufus would approve, I’m sure, as there are so many dogs needing a loving home.
Yes, and their beautiful eyes look at you, their protector, and ask you to explain, to help. I just totally lost it. So sorry for your loss. I know I’ll see Sweet Pea, the Border Collie, in heaven.
We have three wonderful dogs now, Lucy(Beagle / Australian Shepherd mix rescue), Eva(Boxer/Shepard/Pitt? mix rescue) and Buddy(Chihuahua / Terrier mix came with my daughters boyfriend)
It's been a few years but I came across this post and wanted to fix the bad link to the image I originally posted.
To all those who have recently lost beloved pets, may you be comforted in your sadness.
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