In Memory of Jake
By SheliaLee
@SheliaLee (2736)
United States
January 5, 2008 8:41am CST
It has been a while since I said anything about our dog Jake here on Mylot but he was a wonderful dog. Well, last night our precious pet passed away. We had noticed he had not been as active as usual and not eating as much but we thought it might have been the colder weather. But a few nights ago the weather here in Alabama got extremely cold and my husband brought Jake in and put him in our laundry room to protect him from the cold. When he brought him in we saw that he had gotten very slim even though he was fed every day. It was very alarming and heart breaking to see him like that. Last night he was still in the laundry room but he managed to muster up enough energy to push the door open and start walkin through the house. We didn't realize this had happened until we saw our cat Wilbur's eyes get real big and he started tensing up. I got up to go see what was going on and when I rounded the corner there was Jake. He was walking in very slow shuffling steps and made his way over to my side of the bed where my husband and I had been watching TV. He then walked into my office, back through our bedroom, down the hall and into Amanda's room. My husband got him back into the laundry room and covered him up because he was showing signs of still being cold. A few hours later he was gone. It has us all torn up. None of us slept well last night. We will grieve a long time for him, he was a precious dog and member of our family.
Thank you for listening.
SheliaLee
10 people like this
15 responses
@AmbiePam (120547)
• United States
6 Jan 08
Oh hon, I'm so sorry. I'm trying not to cry. It sounds like he was looking for a place to die, it's amazing how they know when their time is almost through. My little Sherlock is about to turn one year, and the thought of him dying just about stops my heart. I will definitely be praying for you all, and my heart is with you.
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
6 Jan 08
Thanks so much hon. We have had other pets to pass away too and it always hurts so bad, but this has been the hardest because we had Jake for so long. My husband and I were talking this morning again. I remember another sweet memory of Jake other than when we first got him. My kids were still little and they were outside playing. We had a little toy car that looked similar to a Volkswagon and Stuart was sitting there in the car. I went out to check on them to make sure everything was all right. When I went to the car to see Stuart Jake had crawled up in his lap, curled up and went to sleep. Stuart was only about 4 at the time. He was sitting there grinning like crazy because the puppy was in his lap. I didn't have a camera at the time or I would have certainly taken a picture. Those memories will stay in my heart.
Thank you again hon.
Love,
SheliaLee
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10532)
• United States
6 Jan 08
Shelia my condolences... I'm sorry I can't give much else.
I'm so sorry you lost your beloved family member.
2 people like this
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
6 Jan 08
I understand and I really appreciate your concern and your response. It means a lot.
SheliaLee
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
5 Jan 08
Sweetheart I am so sorry I really am
I know how hard it is and you know that my Heart and thoughts are with you right now
I will copy the Photo if you do not mind and I will put him on Gissi Web on the rememberence Page
Please let me know that is ok as I will not do it without your Permission
Love and Big Hugs to you
@Ohara_1983 (4117)
• Kuwait
6 Jan 08
Im soory for the lost of your lovely pet, i cannot even explain how to have pets that you really care & show you there love suddenly dis-appears. ever they are animal they know that we love them.
2 people like this
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
6 Jan 08
You are so right Ohara and thank you so very much for your care and response.
SheliaLee
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
5 Jan 08
My heart goes out to you dear - I know what it's like to loss a beloved friend, pet or not.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
5 Jan 08
I've been thinking a lot about this. I lost a beloved friend, Chaffon, 4 years ago and I still miss her horribly she was like my best friend. We just a month ago acquired a beagle from the animal shelter - he was intended for the grandchildren but as he's attached himself to me he's much more my dog - he's sleeping on my bed right now just a few feet from me and I can't imagine not having him around already.
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Thank you Faith. I have so many wonderful friends here on Mylot, it helps to share and you are all so sweet. God Bless!
SheliaLee
@jasonanderson (151)
• United States
5 Jan 08
ahhhh poor jake! i am indeed very sorry to hear about your loss. thank you for sharing his story with us!
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Hello,
I appreciate you taking time to respond. He was very special and it will be a long time before we get another one. He will always hold a special place in our hearts.
SheliaLee
1 person likes this
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Hi Gaby, Thank you so much hon. I'll be happy for you to put his picture on Gissi's website. I'll see if I can find another picture of him to send to you. I'm having a hard time even typing right now because of my tears. We love our animals don't we? I always get so attached to them and it hurts really bad to lose one.
We are fixing to go to my mother's in a little while so I will have to look for another picture when we get back. Talk to you soon hon.
Love and hugs!
Shelia
2 people like this
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
5 Jan 08
I totally understand. We lost our cat Dak just a few months ago. He was 18, so he'd been living with us for a long time. We had to watch him gradually fade and get thin like Jake did and lose his energy until he finally passed away. It is hard to watch, but at least they didn't have some debilitating disease that caused them a lot of pain! It will take some time for the family to grieve. It almost sounds like Jake was saying a goodbye to everyone. So sorry about Jake.
1 person likes this
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Thank you so much Esther. I felt the same way about him going through the house that way. My husband and I were talking early this morning before he even got up to get ready for work about it and I told him the same thing, it was like Jake just wanted to see everything for the last time. A lot of times people think that animals don't know anything but they are a lot smarter than we give them credit for. God Bless.
SheliaLee
@dfinster (3528)
• United States
7 Jan 08
I'm so sorry about your Jake. When I read this it made me tear up. I lost my dog about two years ago to cancer and it was one of the hardest and most heartbreaking things a person can deal with. I'm sorry for you and your family and wish there was something I could do to help you all feel a little better. All of you will be in my thoughts.
1 person likes this
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
7 Jan 08
Thank you so much. We have a feeling that the way Jake acted that he may have had cancer too, although it just happened so suddenly we can't be totally sure. The biggest symptom that makes us think that was his weight loss. We fed him every day but he just got so thin. I told my husband that the thought had even occurred to me that someone may have poisoned him because they didn't like the way he barked at strangers but my husband doesn't think so. I just know it was heartbreaking no matter what it was. I appreciate your thoughts and concerns. SheliaLee
@Grandmaof2 (7578)
• Canada
5 Jan 08
That's the worse part of having a pet, having to part with them is certainly not eazy. When I had to put my poodle down I was literally sick to my stomach and I had to walk out of the animal hospital it was horrible leaving him there knowing I would never see him again. We were a long time getting another dog and when this one goes (My Maltese) I think it'll kill me literally.
1 person likes this
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
5 Jan 08
I appreciate so much your response. We do get so attached to our pets that when something happens it is horrible to go through even though we know that at some point it will probably happen. My husband doesn't show a lot of emotion but I could tell he was hurting last night too. It was hard for him to have to bury him. The grif process will take a while but we will be okay.
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
7 Jan 08
I appreciate you caring and taking time to response. Everybody here on MyLot is always a supporting and caring group of people. God Bless!
SheliaLee
@terri0824 (5203)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Sorry to hear of the loss of your dog Jake. Pets do become members of our families. And when they pass on the are truly missed. The way he went to each of your rooms was as if he knew it was his time to go and it was his way of saying good-bye.
1 person likes this
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Thank you Terri, the more I think about it I truly feel the same way. It makes the pain a little bit easier knowing that. We have had a rough day but we will get better. My husband and I have already discussed that we won't be getting another dog until later on. It is just going to take some time to go through the grieving process and I feel too that it would be a betrayal to Jake to go get another dog too soon. God Bless!
Shelia
@lightningd (1039)
• United States
5 Jan 08
My sincerest sympathy goes out to you and your family. It sounds to me like Jake knew it was his time, and he made his "rounds" through the house to say goodbye to you all. I have heard that animals know when it is their time. I firmly believe this. There's nothing really I can say to help ease the pain you feel right now, but it will get better. Many people don't understand the bond pet owners feel with their animals. It takes a special person to open their heart to an animal so fully that they become a member of the family. I have several pets that are in fact members of my family, and it has hurt greatly when we lost them. I take comfort in knowing that they are in a better place now, and I am sure they are still watching over us. Remember the joy he gave your family, and eventually the pain will ease.
Again, with deepest sympathy,
Doenne
1 person likes this
@SheliaLee (2736)
• United States
5 Jan 08
Thank you Doenne, I haven't heard that before but it wouldn't surprise me. I believe humans somehow know sometimes when it is their time to go. I believe God tells us these things and I believe He lets animals know too, after all they are His creations also.
I appreciate so much your caring and response. God Bless.
SheliaLee
@shonali (1286)
• India
8 Jan 08
my heart aches for u....
i know how it feels when a member of ur family so close to u passes away.... and especially when its a pet.... i love animals n this is the thing i hate the most...to see them go some day.....
and i know he will always be there in ur memories forever
