She has just been an integral part of this family for 13 years.

She has just provided us with more laughs and smiles than I could have ever imagined possible from an animal.

She was fine at noon today.

She was terrified and very, very sick at 12:15.

She remained terrified and we knew it was not right to allow her to suffer.

With the four of us touching her, and holding her, and telling her it would be OK, and that we loved her, she was delivered from her misery in a matter of seconds.

It was the right thing to do.

But it doesn’t feel that way.  We want her back where she belongs and where she is so very comfortable.  She should be sniffing out food.  She should be pawing us while we sit at the table.  She should be bumping her way around the house.  She should be prancing at the sound of the food bowl.  She should be rubbing her nose into our freshly shampood hair.  She should be standing in the doorway of our bedroom cajoling us to go to sleep.  She should be flopping down begging for a belly rub.  She should be racing out the door, even at 13 years old, with her wiggling hips, determined to get to her destination.  She should be snoring in tandem with SweetGuy.  She should be excitedly sniffing out the bread he’s tossed her this morning, and every morning.  She should be prancing, and circling, and raising her front paws a mere inches off the ground signaling her form of a “jump”.  She should be the object of the Jasmine game — created only for her. 

The memories of our pup flood in at this moment.  And what strikes me most about this?  It’s the shere ABUNDANCE of memories.  She permeates the fabric of our lives for the last 13 years. 

I am thankful on this day that she went so quickly.  Cliche I am sure, but I am so glad she did not suffer for long.  I am thankful on this day for Magoo and Bud taking care of her.  They were at home when she suddenly took so ill.  After a quick call, we agreed to meet at the vet’s office.  I pulled up behind them and witnessed Magoo running around the van to open the door, Bud lifting the suffering large Jaz, and the two of them carrying her inside.   It broke my heart – their love for this dog.

I am thankful the four of us - no, the five of us - were together at the end.

I am thankful for an animal doctor who has known Jasmine since she was a pup and who loved her for who she is.  And who has always acknowledged and appreciated us for taking care of our animals.  As silly as this will sound to some, I believe that Jasmine trusted him as much as we did and I am so grateful he was the one to help us through these final terrible moments with such grace.

I am thankful to have been able to bring our dog home to her final resting place.  That we have land, and a beautiful shaded spot by her beloved pond, and a backhoe to dig her grave.  This is the right place for her.  We all know so.

I am thankful from the time she exhibited sickness a mere hours ago, to the time we laid her in the ground, she recieved such an outpouring of love.  DustMeister, The White Rose, Little Cuz far off in TX, Jakester, AUBS!, Emmy, Singing Sally, Nanni, Grace, and Jaz’s special buddy (and one of our best friends) Annie gathered to be with us as we laid her in the ground, gave thanks for her life, and shared stories of her. 

She was just a dog. 

That was a member of the family.

She    will    be     missed     for     as     long      as      we     live.

Thank you Jaz.   From the depths of our hearts.    It’ll be OK.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 at 12:05 am and is filed under Animals. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.