Etherea lost her friend gala and that reminds me of the pain of losing a doggy-family member. While traveling to Oregon once (1971)before I moved here,I had a flat tire on highway 5 in the middle of nowhere. Just trees and more trees,apparently. Spare was flat,so I slept in the car and when I woke up the next morning,I could see a sign that indicated a little town 4 or 5 miles off the freeway,so I stared out rolling my spare toward the town. I got there early and saw that the town consisted of a service station,a little cafe and 5 or 6 houses. The station wasn't open yet,but something caught my eye from a distance up the road and when I walked up there,I saw a dog tied to a little bridge with several dogs trying to get at her. She was a beautifull dog and appeared to be a kind of shepard--maybe aussie-type. The guy that owned the service station finally showed up and proceeded to fix my tire. I asked him what the deal with the dog was and he said he thought the owner had tied her up there waiting for a person that worked the county as dog catcher and she was probably going to the pound and be put down. She'd been there a couple of days, the guy said and he had given her some water and a little food. I immediately said "well,I'll take that dog". So I ran the other dogs off that were harassing her and the service station guy gave me and my new friend a ride back to my car,tire 'n all. That doggy was so gratefull to me that she snuggled up to me and I could tell we were going to be very good friends. Will continue later.
Well,I named her Jessie and she wouldn't leave my side for quite a while. My friend Margaret and I were temporarily in Oregon as we considered Hawaii to be our home,but were there for a few months visiting her mom. We lived across the street from the beach in Lincoln City and when we took her to the beach,she seemed to explode with joy at running as fast as she could down the beach and then coming back to jump on me. Many good times just watching her enjoy living as a loving friend. We decided to take off towards Arizona(for some reason?) and I remember going to a huge flea market there with Margaret and Jessie. I tied a little rope not more than a couple of feet long to Jessie's collar from one of my belt loops and she just knew why I did. She followed me along stopping and starting and truthfully,I never even felt the rope tighten up--she just knew what she was supposed to do. We finally decided to go back to Hawaii and of course,Jessie was to go with us. I really hated for her to have to ride in the bottom of the plane with the luggage ,but the airlines have a policy-no dogs in the passenger area,no matter how much you love your dog!! When we got into the airport,Jessie was in a cage just sitting there and no one was around. I wanted to open the cage and leave with her,but I didn't. I wish I had,because Hawaii has a 6 month quarantine and consequently, Jessie had to live in a complex of cages on the other side of the island. Bad news. will continue.
well it couldnt have your only dog...I see one in the avatar ...unless you were driving very very young ha
That little weenie was my mom's,I guess. Don't remember the little bugger. Good point tho. will be back.
So Margaret and I settled on the windward side of Oahu in Kailua and my little friend was stuck on the other side of the island somewhere in Honolulu. Soon,I found out where she was and crossed the island to see what kind of a situation the state of Hawaii provided for quarantined animals from the mainland. Didn't matter whether shots were up to date or not--too bad--they have to stay anyway. No doubt it's effective to hold dogs for 6 months-they've never had a case of rabies in Hawaii,so I guess I could see their point,but I didn't like the idea of being separated from Jessie for 6 months. When I located the place ,the barking was loud and overwhelming. Dozens and dozens of dogs all barking at once,I assume from being in there so long without their friends to feed them ,love them and take care of them as usual. I'm sure that most if not all of them felt as if they had been abandoned to strangers that had no inclination to interact with them ,other than providing food and water. Pretty sad scene actually, and I didn't care for it at all. But--that's the way it was. So,I decided that I needed to set up a visitation schedule and drive over to see Jessie 2 or 3 times a week at least ,to let her know I was still in her life. She was so happy to see me and the feeling was definately mutual. We could play a little,but of course the small cage didn't allow for much play,however just to be there was a great pleasure for Jessie and me. Time rolled on and after what seemed like a year,it was time to go and get my friend and bring her home. With great anticipation,I picked her up and headed back over the Pali to Kailua,thinking about the fun she and I would have on the beaches of Hawaii. We were so happy to see each other,we could hardly stand still and it was obvious that she was glad that the incarceration she had endured had finally ended. About a week later,Jessie fell down and was in some kind of obvious pain. Her pain hurt and scared me badly and we rushed off to a vet's office and I watched as they took her back into the confines of yet another place that wouldn't allow her to run and play. The Vet told me to go home and come back the next day and the results of the tests he was going to do would be available. I showed up the next morning and the vet immediately brought her out and said that I should spend some time with her because she was going to die. Her pancreas was failing. When he brought her in to me,she didn't look good,but she tried to come to me and I gathered her in my arms and spent some time talking softly to her. Jessie has been gone a long time now,yet I can still see her streaking down the beach and returning to me, so proud of how she could run. I only got to spend a year or so with her,but I'll never forget her. She taught me what real,no conditions expected love was and I've never forgotten it. I really loved that little soul.
That's a beautiful story Scratcho ... but I guess it took a lot of effort to write it up. I feel your pain, and the tears you shed for her. What a shame she did not get to enjoy a bit more freedom and happiness with you first.
Beautiful and sad. Now I know why the delay in the last part of the story, it hurts to remember, even though we never forget..... Thanks, man.
What a beautiful story, my friend. I've never had a dog. I'm thinking about getting one but I know I will be devastated when the time comes that it passes. Dogs are the greatest friends. I do think that at some point in your life, you should get another dog. I think that every person/family should have a pet at some point. Its unfortunate that your time was cut short with Jessie, but I think you should consider giving dogs another chance
It's been kitties ever since. I like to get strays,fix 'em up and get 'em homes. I reckon maybe it's time to get myself another doggy friend--at the pound ,if anyplace. Yeah,it really did hurt bringing that back. So it goes. Thank you all for appreciating my story. Those of you that have lost a little family member like Jessie ,will certainly understand the loss.
I'm going through losing Thor right now, but he's still hanging on..... That dog personifies LOVE.... what happens when love dies, man?
Time takes care of most of the pain . Don't think the love ever really goes away tho. Jessie lives on in me and Thor will do the same with you. I'm sorry you're losing your friend too. It's a bitch,ain't it?
Yeah...... I mean I have two dogs, so it's not the same as your situation. But Thor just loved everyone.
