We had to make our hardest decision yesterday - to have Jack put to sleep - before his time, and not for reasons of his health referred to above.
For no explicable reason, he bit the hand of a young visitor to our house, with whom he had been completely happy for a quarter of an hour before, demonstrating an escalation in unpredictable behaviour which began some twelve months ago, and for which we had sought professional advice. Our cautious approach with visitors had been paying off, but we were caught off guard on Thursday afternoon.
The young lady is recovering, we hope with no long term ill-effects. 99% of the time Jack was the perfect pet.
I have tried to sum up our feelings in the rather poor verses below. Now I understand how other pet owners feel when they lose a 4-legged friend and member of the family.
I am destroyed.
MISSING JACK
No welcome now when we come home
Not like yours, desperate to be the first
Barking to let everyone know
“Come quickly let them in”.
No excited charge around the house, showing off
Skidding on the tiled floor, and in that moment
You drove away the traumas of our day
And brought a smile to us all.
No wagging tail or hopeful face
At the sound of keys
Or sight of coat in hand
Grateful at the prospect of a walk around.
No proud white feathered tail or lion’s mane
That beautiful white and brown fur
All long with waxy sheen
To stroke and soothe away our stress.
No sentry to protect us now
Stood tall on hind legs
Spying through window as if to say
“What’s going on out there I should know about?”
No indignant “woof” at the sight
Of those fat pigeons on the fence
Or nudge of curtains to see
Who’s in the garden when it’s dark outside.
No pretty face with heart-shaped blaze
Those doggy eyes to melt away our troubles
Your tilted head and inquisitive gaze
Always interested in our boring lives.
No large sigh as you relaxed
That made us say “exactly Jack”
No “up up” now to invite you
To curl up beside us and warm our toes.
No playmate bringing towel or ball to drag us up to play
Why should you fetch when we can chase
That sporty growl, those lightning twists and turns
Those short-cuts - we stood no chance!
No urgent paw to remind us
“It’s dinner time you know”
Or distract us from our work
“Surely you’ve sat at that computer long enough?”
No stretching forward, hind legs out second
Then neck to sky – exercise time
You were off on garden patrol
Sniffing nose at ground or nostrils twitching in the air.
No “paws” or “high-fives” any more
Or forehead to kiss and adore
Just your friendly face to miss
Why did it come to this?
No more scrounging, no more Jack to spoil
The kitchen seems an empty place
You’re not there to find our waste
Or catch that tit-bit we pretend we didn’t throw your way.
No gentle brush against our legs
Under the table whilst we work or eat
“Don’t forget me”
“I’m here too”.
No point in commanding “on your mat”
“In your basket”, or to a disappointed face
No need to say “we’re coming back”
Our guilt is of a different sort.
No more calming influence
To bridge the teenager/parent gap
You were our common factor
Our sticking-plaster and our bond.
No patient and loyal friend
Our house has lost its soul – it will never be the same
We are broken-hearted to lose you
We loved you – so sorry Jack.
Jack (Kooikerhondje Unosta Top Secret)
27 June 2010 to 7 June 2013
R.I.P
