Goodbye My Friend

Jack,
I am so sorry for the pain you endured in your final days. You’ve had injuries before, but they’ve never kept you down for long, I prayed that this one, too, would pass. When you walked over to me to let me know you needed to go outside, you seemed to have more energy than I’d seen in a while. I carried you down the steps and set you down in the yard, you were on your feet and disappeared into the darkness of the night. When you didn’t come home, I worried that you were lying somewhere not having the strength to make it back home. When we found you eight hours later, you looked at us as if to say ‘What are you doing here?’ instead of the ‘What took you so long?’ expression I was use to. You let me carry you and put you on the front seat of the truck to take you home, but would not let me take you out once we were there.

Pops put the heater in the truck for you last night so you would stay comfortable, and the kids made sure to give you water and food throughout the night, but you did not want anyone trying to move you. At the vet’s office, they had to come outside to see you, and the determination was made that you were no longer enjoying life, your brown eyes, now blued with age, showed pain and weariness. I wish I could have been there to pet you one last time and tell you that I love you. I know you’re in a much better place now, with hips that don’t hurt, and hundreds of trees you’re allowed to dig out of the ground without getting in trouble for. Thank you for being our faithful friend, protector, and companion, Jack. We love you, and will miss you more than you could ever know.

Love Always, Mom