Today was a sad day.
We chose to put Jasper to sleep. He was almost 13 years old.
In early 2007, he came to me as a rescue puppy. He’d swallowed a sock! The owners couldn’t afford the cost of surgery, but the Vet wouldn’t allow him to be put to sleep at only 3 months old. His personality was already apparent. So the Vet performed the surgery and Jasper went into the Golden Retriever Rescue program. (His hair came from his Golden Retriever side but his pure black came from the Black Lab parent)
He was my near constant companion in Alaska and still when I first moved down to Washington.
He and Ryan were also Best Buds as they went through their “teen” years together.
He was my near constant companion in Alaska and still when I first moved down to Washington.
He and Ryan were also Best Buds as they went through their “teen” years together.
When I left Alaska, Karen insisted on him living with her once she was settled in to her Chicago apartment.
Jasper had boundless energy and could not keep his feet on the ground. He’d run everywhere and loved everyone. He “bounced” with exuberance! Needless to say, when she told me that maybe it wasn’t best for him to live with her, as overjoyed as I was, it left me with a dilemma: how would it be any better for him to live on a sailboat with me? I’d already removed the built-in table because I couldn’t step over him sprawled across the floor and maneuver around the large oversized table even when it was folded down.
To my great relief, Jerri’s neighbor and good friend Robbie, who had come to adore Jasper from the first time she’d met him, (who didn’t?) came to the rescue and said (pleaded?😊) that he could live with her. That was perfect! She is a fantastic lady with a dog-friendly home and there was no doubt he’d have the best home, and love, and care that I could ever imagine. As he certainly has for these past 4 years. Since we get to visit Robbie often, I was able to get my Jasper “fix” now and then and see how wonderful he was being cared for. He’d explode with excitement, there’s no other way to describe it, when he’d see me! He was happy dog!
Jasper had boundless energy and could not keep his feet on the ground. He’d run everywhere and loved everyone. He “bounced” with exuberance! Needless to say, when she told me that maybe it wasn’t best for him to live with her, as overjoyed as I was, it left me with a dilemma: how would it be any better for him to live on a sailboat with me? I’d already removed the built-in table because I couldn’t step over him sprawled across the floor and maneuver around the large oversized table even when it was folded down.
To my great relief, Jerri’s neighbor and good friend Robbie, who had come to adore Jasper from the first time she’d met him, (who didn’t?) came to the rescue and said (pleaded?😊) that he could live with her. That was perfect! She is a fantastic lady with a dog-friendly home and there was no doubt he’d have the best home, and love, and care that I could ever imagine. As he certainly has for these past 4 years. Since we get to visit Robbie often, I was able to get my Jasper “fix” now and then and see how wonderful he was being cared for. He’d explode with excitement, there’s no other way to describe it, when he’d see me! He was happy dog!
This past August, however, Robbie let us know he was losing energy really fast.
I’m sure he’d burned up 20 years worth of energy in his 13 years of life! If you’d met Jasper, you’d understand.
It wasn’t unexpected; anyone who’s brought a fur buddy into the home knows this eventually happens, but it was still so sad to hear. He held on and Robbie continued to go above and beyond whatever she could to help him recover or just make him comfortable. He even rebounded a little for a week or two. I visited him a few weeks ago. Although he could only stand and walk with great effort, he came to greet me as I got out of the car, with his typical Jasper “smile” and as much enthusiasm as he could find in his tired old body. I sat on the front steps as he laid down with his head on my feet, looking up at me and nudging my hand each time he thought I’d stopped petting him. He was still smiling!
I’m sure he’d burned up 20 years worth of energy in his 13 years of life! If you’d met Jasper, you’d understand.
It wasn’t unexpected; anyone who’s brought a fur buddy into the home knows this eventually happens, but it was still so sad to hear. He held on and Robbie continued to go above and beyond whatever she could to help him recover or just make him comfortable. He even rebounded a little for a week or two. I visited him a few weeks ago. Although he could only stand and walk with great effort, he came to greet me as I got out of the car, with his typical Jasper “smile” and as much enthusiasm as he could find in his tired old body. I sat on the front steps as he laid down with his head on my feet, looking up at me and nudging my hand each time he thought I’d stopped petting him. He was still smiling!
I always like to say it was difficult taking his picture because he wasn’t so much “black” in color as he was the absence of all light! Until he got his gray whiskers he had no white on him at all. And definitely no “golden”. It was like he just absorbed all light energy, and that’s why he always had so much to release.
Boy oh boy could he run! And run he did! Even on many of my marathon training runs. He’d do one and a half miles for every one I’d do. I finally had to leave him behind on the really long runs after I had to carry him home the last 1/4 mile of a 12 mile run because he never let on that he was tired. I felt horrible.
He also loved to go for rides, especially in the back of my truck. Even at 40 below zero if I’d let him! Which I never did. (Well, once.... so he’d see what it was like. Didn’t work!) He’d seriously fight me when it was too cold and I’d force him inside the cab! He’d scowl at me from across the seat.
I’m embarrassed to tell this story, but more than a few times he’d jump in the bed of my truck and I’d head out of the driveway. At the end of the driveway I’d hear a loud YELP! from the back and remember that I’d forgotten to take off his “Invisible Fence” receiver collar that zapped him if he crossed the buried wire around the perimeter of the property.... including the driveway! But he’d forget about it the next time I dropped the tailgate for him to go for a ride and jump right in. I got better at remembering though.
Boy oh boy could he run! And run he did! Even on many of my marathon training runs. He’d do one and a half miles for every one I’d do. I finally had to leave him behind on the really long runs after I had to carry him home the last 1/4 mile of a 12 mile run because he never let on that he was tired. I felt horrible.
He also loved to go for rides, especially in the back of my truck. Even at 40 below zero if I’d let him! Which I never did. (Well, once.... so he’d see what it was like. Didn’t work!) He’d seriously fight me when it was too cold and I’d force him inside the cab! He’d scowl at me from across the seat.
I’m embarrassed to tell this story, but more than a few times he’d jump in the bed of my truck and I’d head out of the driveway. At the end of the driveway I’d hear a loud YELP! from the back and remember that I’d forgotten to take off his “Invisible Fence” receiver collar that zapped him if he crossed the buried wire around the perimeter of the property.... including the driveway! But he’d forget about it the next time I dropped the tailgate for him to go for a ride and jump right in. I got better at remembering though.
We bring pets into our life thinking it’ll be fun to have them around. Dogs especially. Inevitably they come to mean so much more to each of us, and our lives, and theirs, than we could ever imagine.
He was a good dog, a good Buddy, and a good companion through the years. Even as he became those very same things also to Robbie and her son RJ for the past 4 years. Jasper had enough excitement and love to give to everyone lucky enough to have met him.
Today I drove to Everett to help Robbie by taking Jasper to the Animal Hospital for a Dr. to take a look at him. The Doctor’s response was terribly sad, though not surprising. RJ was with me. It was a difficult decision, but we all knew it was the best one to make. RJ and I talked to Jasper as we rubbed his ears and stroked his hair. I’d like to think he was smiling up at us in understanding, as he drifted off to his final sleep.
Thank you Robbie, for the love and care you gave to him.
Here’s to you, Jasper: run and bounce, and smile again!
