The Buddy

Jake came into our family March 31, 2000. I had found him in the local newspaper. He was a 3 month old puppy, with great big feet and adorable black eyes. He loved to chew and stuffed animals were his favorite...bones came next...but tennis balls and gravel were tied for third. Jake loved to help dig holes in the flower bed, you would find him standing in a 4ft by 2ft hole in the ground, panting happily he'd look up at you, as if to say "Is this big enough?" and usually all you could say was "Oh Jake!" as you looked at the uprooted flowers.

He became deer dog in the summer, leaping over the 2 foot high grass in the back yard, all four feet off the ground at once, looking for that tennis ball or that piece of gravel. Excited with tongue hanging out the side of his mouth, always expectant.

When Jake was about 3 years old he suddenly found water to be very entertaining. Whether it was spraying from the hose or in his own personal doggy pool, Jake found great satisfaction in sticking his nose underwater and inhaling deeply, causing him to sneeze and sputter. He loved his rubber ducky and was often found in the pond on hot summer days, swimming amongst the slime and fish; generally refusing to come when called.

During the fall, Jake enjoyed helping rake leaves. He would bark and bark as you worked...just pleading with you to throw his tennis ball. Sometimes he would drop it into the pile of leaves and he would get very puzzled as he looked for the disappearing tennis ball. He just couldn't understand where it went. Silly dog could be amused for hours on end.

In the winter time, Jake loved snow balls, snow was so enjoyable for that dog. Whether it was chasing the sled down the driveway, hunting for his tennis ball in snow drifts or catching snowballs, Jake was ready for action.

Jake wasn't very fond of chasing the deer, he seemed to think that they were too big, usually we found him stretched out on the picnic table sound asleep as the deer walked about the yard, munching on mom's flowers and enjoying their new found freedom.

The cats, on the other hand, weren't too big. Jake loved chasing the cats around the yard. Barking joyfully when he treed one of them and being completely alarmed when one of them scratched his nose. To him it made no sense at all.

Jake loved stuffed animals, most of mine have been chewed or have dog slobber all over them. When Luamy and Lucy came to visit over spring break Jake noticed their stuffed animals and wanted them greatly. Wanting to remember Jake's attachment to stuffed animals I decided to find my camera and document the excitment of "talking" stuffed animals.

Pets never live forever, we have our stories about Jake, but we no longer have Jake. The cancer had spread, causing Jake serious pain and the vet decided that it was time to put him down. My buddy is gone and I will miss him so much, I will greatly miss my running buddy this summer...it always turned out that I was never taking Jake running, he was generally in charge of the speed and sometimes the direction. I was always getting yanked here and there as he suddenly noticed something of great interest of the other side of the road...or decided that he was hot and would like to take a swim in the creek, leaping through the brush and catapulting himself with a splash into the cold water. What a dog.

But who knows in a few months there might be another floppy eared doggy running around the house...digging up the flowers, eating stuffed animals and socks, and generally terrifying Buffy...a whole new personality crashing with a dramatic thud onto the wood floor. Reminding us of our buddy who gave us so much joy and also caused so much trouble. Our socks are safe for now and my stuffed animals are packed in boxes...but this little doggy has been dubbed "baby Jake." Jake liked him too, for there is evidence of dog slobber on his little black coat. And on my desk he sits, reminding me everyday of my "little" awkward doggy that completely stole every one's heart.