As I write, it’s a week since my sweet boy Jackson was euthanized. He had something wrong with his pancreas and at 14 or so, I decided not to explore any more or to have him treated if his diagnosis was confirmed. I decided to wait until symptoms appeared, and then a decision would be made.
And it’s a hard decision but not as hard as it could be. When you adopt a pet, you make a promise, whether you know it or not. You promise to give them a good life and a good death. At almost all times, you hold their lives and deaths in your hands, and it’s a big responsibility. You need to be a grown-up to handle this, to be sure you make decisions considering what’s best for them and not just for you.
Anyway, Jackson stopped eating, and we all know how much he loved to eat. There were some other clear signs that the disease was taking over and causing him distress. So I called Lap of Love (www.lapoflove.com) and arranged to have one of their vets come to my house. I recommend them highly. She was kind and competent, and Jackson went peacefully.
I miss him. His velvet-y fur, his lumpy squishiness, his beautiful old face. But Purl and I are dealing with it.
Here are some pictures, from 2007, when I adopted Jackson, to just a few weeks ago.
The day we met:
Finding his place at the shop:
Relaxing at home:
Celebrating the holidays:
Jack meets Purl:
Contemplating the universe, or wondering how long till dinner:
Just a few weeks ago:
My favorite photo:
Thank you for being so sweet to Jackson. He was a lucky dog to have so many friends.
Bye-bye, sweetheart.
