It was September 29th, 1991, my 40th birthday, when my mother pulled up with a little, dirty, black & tan shivering dog in her car. She announced, "This is your birthday present!", handed me her leash and headed back towards her car. I stopped her & told her I wanted an explanation. Seems some mean boys on bikes had been chasing this poor little dog, throwing dirt clods and rocks at her. My mom had felt sorry for her & brought her to me, knowing I would care for her, at least until she could find her a permanent home. "But Mom," I said, "I already have Jake." Jake was my year old Great Dane who was busy sniffing the poor, scared, little girl dog. My mom told me that now Jake would have company, but if she couldn't adjust, she'd place her with someone else. The poor little dog was just all aquiver & scared of my big "Boo" dog. "Well, first things first." I told her & led her into the house, where I gave her some dry food to eat. She wolfed it down, and did look rather thin under all that dirt; I gave her some more food & water, petting her & talking to her in a gentle voice. She started to calm down & wagged her tail & gave me kisses. I looked into those big brown eyes, so afraid but so full of love & I was hooked. Next it was bath time. I don't know if she'd ever had a bath before, or the kind that I give, which aren't cold water in the yard. I took her in the bathroom & shut the door. Oh, what a time we had, getting her bathed! I sang little 'wash the dog' songs to her & kept the water nice & warm. She crouched down as though I was going to beat her or some awful thing, but when she was completely rinsed, I towel dried her & opened the bathroom door. She ran out into the livingroom, a completely different dog, happy to be clean, dry and fed. She ran round & round in circles in the livingroom with a big grin on her face and even came back into the bathroom where I was cleaning up to give me more doggy kisses, then ran back out into the livingroom again. My son's friend came in and said something about her "jazzing around" and thus her name was born. My loving girl, Jazz, came into my life on my 40th birthday.
She loved to get pets. She loved to play fetch the ball and tug of war. She got along well with my four kitties and she didn't eat their food (most of the time). After a few trial runs in the car, she learned not to jump out of the window if she saw another dog at a red light. I also made sure the windows were rolled up high enough so she couldn't squeeze thru them. I made sure she had all of her shots & was noone's lost pet. She was fixed so she wouldn't go into heat or get pregnant. When my family or friends would come by to visit, she knew them by their cars or motorcycles & alerted me right away, telling me who had arrived. Jazz was a sweetheart who always gave me kisses & nuzzled up against me for pets. If I danced to a song, Jazz would dance along with me, holding her paws out for me to grab onto. She loved to jump up onto my bed and sleep next to me at night, cuddling up against me. She almost always gave me a kiss good night. My mother received a big Thank You from me for my surprise birthday present. Jazz was a caring and loving companion who loved me unconditionally and we celebrated her birthday on my birthday. As she grew older she began to have health problems as all older dogs do; the vet's biggest concern was Jazz's teeth. They were in terrible condition and needed to be cleaned desperately. It was an expense I hadn't counted on & couldn't really afford, but she couldn't really eat without it hurting her mouth, so I did the responsible thing & had her teeth cleaned. It looked as though she might even loose a few teeth, but at least she'd be able to eat. I reluctantly took her in for her day surgery; they had to put her out for the dental work-- it was just that extensive. I tried to pick her up at the pre appointed time, but she wasn't awake yet. I had to go back at 6pm and then she was so wobbly that I wasn't sure she was really awake enough to take home. They gave me medicine to give her for the pain and to help her sleep, but it didn't work. She and I were up all night. I was trying to keep her from running into the furniture and the walls. She was so "out of it" I was scared and had her at the vet's office 1st thing in the morning when the techs arrived. We got her inside and they gave her a shot for the pain, then put her into a cage so she would lie down and rest. I went home and went to bed with a terrible migraine but I told them to let me know when I could see her & to call me when she woke up. When I awakened it was almost closing time & I couldn't believe I'd slept away the day and they hadn't called me. I immediately called the vet & the people at the front desk put me right thru to the vet who told me that Jazz had gone to sleep and never awakened. I started to cry and I couldn't stop. I just kept saying, "No." and they kept apologizing, saying they'd not realized it would be so hard on her. It was 3 days before my 56th birthday. I had my little girl dog cremated and went to get her ashes. They made the mistake of asking me if there was anything they could do for me, as they handed me the box with her ashes in it. I told them, "Yes. You can give me my dog back!" and left, crying. I still have her ashes in the box on my mantle, can't think of any place to put her ashes except with me. I know she's in Heaven with my other kitties and dogs who've gone before. I know she passed over the Rainbow Bridge and she's not in any pain anymore, but I still miss her so very much. She was such a sweet loving girl, one of God's loving Creatures & I know she watches for me to cross over the Bridge along with my other critters who have gone before. What a reunion it will be.
She loved to get pets. She loved to play fetch the ball and tug of war. She got along well with my four kitties and she didn't eat their food (most of the time). After a few trial runs in the car, she learned not to jump out of the window if she saw another dog at a red light. I also made sure the windows were rolled up high enough so she couldn't squeeze thru them. I made sure she had all of her shots & was noone's lost pet. She was fixed so she wouldn't go into heat or get pregnant. When my family or friends would come by to visit, she knew them by their cars or motorcycles & alerted me right away, telling me who had arrived. Jazz was a sweetheart who always gave me kisses & nuzzled up against me for pets. If I danced to a song, Jazz would dance along with me, holding her paws out for me to grab onto. She loved to jump up onto my bed and sleep next to me at night, cuddling up against me. She almost always gave me a kiss good night. My mother received a big Thank You from me for my surprise birthday present. Jazz was a caring and loving companion who loved me unconditionally and we celebrated her birthday on my birthday. As she grew older she began to have health problems as all older dogs do; the vet's biggest concern was Jazz's teeth. They were in terrible condition and needed to be cleaned desperately. It was an expense I hadn't counted on & couldn't really afford, but she couldn't really eat without it hurting her mouth, so I did the responsible thing & had her teeth cleaned. It looked as though she might even loose a few teeth, but at least she'd be able to eat. I reluctantly took her in for her day surgery; they had to put her out for the dental work-- it was just that extensive. I tried to pick her up at the pre appointed time, but she wasn't awake yet. I had to go back at 6pm and then she was so wobbly that I wasn't sure she was really awake enough to take home. They gave me medicine to give her for the pain and to help her sleep, but it didn't work. She and I were up all night. I was trying to keep her from running into the furniture and the walls. She was so "out of it" I was scared and had her at the vet's office 1st thing in the morning when the techs arrived. We got her inside and they gave her a shot for the pain, then put her into a cage so she would lie down and rest. I went home and went to bed with a terrible migraine but I told them to let me know when I could see her & to call me when she woke up. When I awakened it was almost closing time & I couldn't believe I'd slept away the day and they hadn't called me. I immediately called the vet & the people at the front desk put me right thru to the vet who told me that Jazz had gone to sleep and never awakened. I started to cry and I couldn't stop. I just kept saying, "No." and they kept apologizing, saying they'd not realized it would be so hard on her. It was 3 days before my 56th birthday. I had my little girl dog cremated and went to get her ashes. They made the mistake of asking me if there was anything they could do for me, as they handed me the box with her ashes in it. I told them, "Yes. You can give me my dog back!" and left, crying. I still have her ashes in the box on my mantle, can't think of any place to put her ashes except with me. I know she's in Heaven with my other kitties and dogs who've gone before. I know she passed over the Rainbow Bridge and she's not in any pain anymore, but I still miss her so very much. She was such a sweet loving girl, one of God's loving Creatures & I know she watches for me to cross over the Bridge along with my other critters who have gone before. What a reunion it will be.
It was September 29th, 1991, my 40th birthday, when my mother pulled up with a little, dirty, black & tan shivering dog in her car. She announced, "This is your birthday present!", handed me her leash and headed back towards her car. I stopped her & told her I wanted an explanation. Seems some mean boys on bikes had been chasing this poor little dog, throwing dirt clods and rocks at her. My mom had felt sorry for her & brought her to me, knowing I would care for her, at least until she could find her a permanent home. "But Mom," I said, "I already have Jake." Jake was my year old Great Dane who was busy sniffing the poor, scared, little girl dog. My mom told me that now Jake would have company, but if she couldn't adjust, she'd place her with someone else. The poor little dog was just all aquiver & scared of my big "Boo" dog. "Well, first things first." I told her & led her into the house, where I gave her some dry food to eat. She wolfed it down, and did look rather thin under all that dirt; I gave her some more food & water, petting her & talking to her in a gentle voice. She started to calm down & wagged her tail & gave me kisses. I looked into those big brown eyes, so afraid but so full of love & I was hooked. Next it was bath time. I don't know if she'd ever had a bath before, or the kind that I give, which aren't cold water in the yard. I took her in the bathroom & shut the door. Oh, what a time we had, getting her bathed! I sang little 'wash the dog' songs to her & kept the water nice & warm. She crouched down as though I was going to beat her or some awful thing, but when she was completely rinsed, I towel dried her & opened the bathroom door. She ran out into the livingroom, a completely different dog, happy to be clean, dry and fed. She ran round & round in circles in the livingroom with a big grin on her face and even came back into the bathroom where I was cleaning up to give me more doggy kisses, then ran back out into the livingroom again. My son's friend came in and said something about her "jazzing around" and thus her name was born. My loving girl, Jazz, came into my life on my 40th birthday.
She loved to get pets. She loved to play fetch the ball and tug of war. She got along well with my four kitties and she didn't eat their food (most of the time). After a few trial runs in the car, she learned not to jump out of the window if she saw another dog at a red light. I also made sure the windows were rolled up high enough so she couldn't squeeze thru them. I made sure she had all of her shots & was noone's lost pet. She was fixed so she wouldn't go into heat or get pregnant. When my family or friends would come by to visit, she knew them by their cars or motorcycles & alerted me right away, telling me who had arrived. Jazz was a sweetheart who always gave me kisses & nuzzled up against me for pets. If I danced to a song, Jazz would dance along with me, holding her paws out for me to grab onto. She loved to jump up onto my bed and sleep next to me at night, cuddling up against me. She almost always gave me a kiss good night. My mother received a big Thank You from me for my surprise birthday present. Jazz was a caring and loving companion who loved me unconditionally and we celebrated her birthday on my birthday. As she grew older she began to have health problems as all older dogs do; the vet's biggest concern was Jazz's teeth. They were in terrible condition and needed to be cleaned desperately. It was an expense I hadn't counted on & couldn't really afford, but she couldn't really eat without it hurting her mouth, so I did the responsible thing & had her teeth cleaned. It looked as though she might even loose a few teeth, but at least she'd be able to eat. I reluctantly took her in for her day surgery; they had to put her out for the dental work-- it was just that extensive. I tried to pick her up at the pre appointed time, but she wasn't awake yet. I had to go back at 6pm and then she was so wobbly that I wasn't sure she was really awake enough to take home. They gave me medicine to give her for the pain and to help her sleep, but it didn't work. She and I were up all night. I was trying to keep her from running into the furniture and the walls. She was so "out of it" I was scared and had her at the vet's office 1st thing in the morning when the techs arrived. We got her inside and they gave her a shot for the pain, then put her into a cage so she would lie down and rest. I went home and went to bed with a terrible migraine but I told them to let me know when I could see her & to call me when she woke up. When I awakened it was almost closing time & I couldn't believe I'd slept away the day and they hadn't called me. I immediately called the vet & the people at the front desk put me right thru to the vet who told me that Jazz had gone to sleep and never awakened. I started to cry and I couldn't stop. I just kept saying, "No." and they kept apologizing, saying they'd not realized it would be so hard on her. It was 3 days before my 56th birthday. I had my little girl dog cremated and went to get her ashes. They made the mistake of asking me if there was anything they could do for me, as they handed me the box with her ashes in it. I told them, "Yes. You can give me my dog back!" and left, crying. I still have her ashes in the box on my mantle, can't think of any place to put her ashes except with me. I know she's in Heaven with my other kitties and dogs who've gone before. I know she passed over the Rainbow Bridge and she's not in any pain anymore, but I still miss her so very much. She was such a sweet loving girl, one of God's loving Creatures & I know she watches for me to cross over the Bridge along with my other critters who have gone before. What a reunion it will be.
She loved to get pets. She loved to play fetch the ball and tug of war. She got along well with my four kitties and she didn't eat their food (most of the time). After a few trial runs in the car, she learned not to jump out of the window if she saw another dog at a red light. I also made sure the windows were rolled up high enough so she couldn't squeeze thru them. I made sure she had all of her shots & was noone's lost pet. She was fixed so she wouldn't go into heat or get pregnant. When my family or friends would come by to visit, she knew them by their cars or motorcycles & alerted me right away, telling me who had arrived. Jazz was a sweetheart who always gave me kisses & nuzzled up against me for pets. If I danced to a song, Jazz would dance along with me, holding her paws out for me to grab onto. She loved to jump up onto my bed and sleep next to me at night, cuddling up against me. She almost always gave me a kiss good night. My mother received a big Thank You from me for my surprise birthday present. Jazz was a caring and loving companion who loved me unconditionally and we celebrated her birthday on my birthday. As she grew older she began to have health problems as all older dogs do; the vet's biggest concern was Jazz's teeth. They were in terrible condition and needed to be cleaned desperately. It was an expense I hadn't counted on & couldn't really afford, but she couldn't really eat without it hurting her mouth, so I did the responsible thing & had her teeth cleaned. It looked as though she might even loose a few teeth, but at least she'd be able to eat. I reluctantly took her in for her day surgery; they had to put her out for the dental work-- it was just that extensive. I tried to pick her up at the pre appointed time, but she wasn't awake yet. I had to go back at 6pm and then she was so wobbly that I wasn't sure she was really awake enough to take home. They gave me medicine to give her for the pain and to help her sleep, but it didn't work. She and I were up all night. I was trying to keep her from running into the furniture and the walls. She was so "out of it" I was scared and had her at the vet's office 1st thing in the morning when the techs arrived. We got her inside and they gave her a shot for the pain, then put her into a cage so she would lie down and rest. I went home and went to bed with a terrible migraine but I told them to let me know when I could see her & to call me when she woke up. When I awakened it was almost closing time & I couldn't believe I'd slept away the day and they hadn't called me. I immediately called the vet & the people at the front desk put me right thru to the vet who told me that Jazz had gone to sleep and never awakened. I started to cry and I couldn't stop. I just kept saying, "No." and they kept apologizing, saying they'd not realized it would be so hard on her. It was 3 days before my 56th birthday. I had my little girl dog cremated and went to get her ashes. They made the mistake of asking me if there was anything they could do for me, as they handed me the box with her ashes in it. I told them, "Yes. You can give me my dog back!" and left, crying. I still have her ashes in the box on my mantle, can't think of any place to put her ashes except with me. I know she's in Heaven with my other kitties and dogs who've gone before. I know she passed over the Rainbow Bridge and she's not in any pain anymore, but I still miss her so very much. She was such a sweet loving girl, one of God's loving Creatures & I know she watches for me to cross over the Bridge along with my other critters who have gone before. What a reunion it will be.
