So Hard To Say Good Bye To An Old Friend..

In All the Many.. Many Years that We've had a Farm & Live Stock we have had So Many terrific Dogs that have come & Gone in our Lives..
Having a Farm You Know people just naturally think this is just the place they all should go to when they are trying to find a new home for them.. & really.. rightly so.. What Dog WOULDN'T want to go live on a Farm.. ?
Besides.. Thats where Our Parents always told us all our Dogs went when they all came up missing when we were growing up.. Remember? 'The Farm' The GLORIOUS Farm.. all Dogs Dream of 'The Farm'.!

Anyway.. We have had So Many Dogs Come & Go.. Most were just fantastic Dogs.. But then.. aren't most Dogs just Fantastic anyway? Some stayed.. some moved on.. some left with other People.. Some chose us.. Some we Chose.. Some came with damaged Hearts or bodies.. regardless.. they were all loved..

There was One Dog Named Jake.. Jake was a German Shepard/Chow Mix.. He looked exactly Like a German Shepard..
But maybe a bit more Fluffy.. & of course that Tell Tale Chow Black Tongue.. He was Such a Sweetie Pie..
Nice Big Dog.. We are not little Dog People.. although you wouldn't know this now in our old Age.. we seem surrounded by smidgy little dogs as of late..
Jake Came to us Via My Son Petey's Ag Teacher.. Who had Jake Tied up in his Yard.. (For good Reason..) Jake had a touch of the Gypsie Blood.. he liked to roam a bit too much!
& everytime I happened to be over visiting The Ag Barn.. there Would be Jake.. All excited to see me.. ! ( Of Course he was thrilled to see everyone.. he was Tied up afterall..!)
So, One day.. Petey Showed up at OUR Barn With Jake.. "Mr. Brown said he wanted you to have Jake.. He knows how much you love this Dog he said!" Actually.. This was A Very Sweet way for Mr.Brown to drive the Dog over & drop him off at my gate.. he just did it alot nicer..!
So.. That was about 14 years ago or so.. & Mr. Brown felt that Jake was 2 years old then.. So.. We had our Jakie for a very long time.. & I can't say it enough how Lucky we were the Day Mr. Brown Sent My Jake to us!
He has been one os the Sweetest most Treasured Friends we have had! Always Diplomatic.. always the King.. & Gentelman.. Loving.. Considerate & just always there to listen & cuddle with.
He never chased a Horse or cow or Chicken!
On the Contrary.. JAKE became the Incubator!
Didn't take long for Mama Chickens to realize that Jake was a Friendly.. & He Soon became a One Man Daddy Day Care..
You could see Mamma Chickens running across the field.. call out to Jake.. he'd stand up.. & out would scurry Baby Peeps in all Directions ! He was a Big Old Gentle Giant..
Kittens Loved toTumble all over him.. & he'd just lay there while they played king of the Hill on old Uncle Jake.. tugging at his Tail & Ears..
He'd most often sleep in the barn.. But he'd slip inside when he got a chance too..
As Long as he hadn't gone off on one of his adventures.. He USUALLY was Tick Free.. But if you'd lost track of him sometime during the day.. You can count on him wandering home later that evening after a swim somewhere sporting a new coat of ticks.. Which for some reason the kids at the Barn Always found SO entertaining to sit & pick off of him.. I often wondered if Jake somehow did this intentionaly so he could get a nice brushing & body massage now & then from the Little Barn Brats that used to hang around..!
He loved to lay on the cool concrete floor of the Barn in the Summer.. & in front of the Fire Old Stove there in the Winter..
But it was always fun to find him dug in a hole in the hay when i got to the Barn in the mornings too.. Before anyone else had arrived yet.. He'd wake up.. & walk back & forth with me as I fed & turned out each of the horses.. Which could take a big part of the mornings if I had a Full Barn!
We Sold off all the Stock & moved to a smaller place a bit over 5 years ago.. Jake still with us.. Decided he wanted to go with the new "Down Sized" Mom & Dad too.. Most of the Dogs had at that point either moved on to greener pastures.. or gone with one of our now Grown kids.. or with one of the horses that had since been sold.. we'd had as many as 12 Dogs at one point.. Not counting puppies.. So Jake.. His Wife Jewel a Golden Retreiver/Rodesian Ridgback Mix & Odie.. our Little Border Collie.. Were the Last of the 3 big Barn Dogs that Stayed With My Sweetie & I.. Jewel was 2 years older then Jake.. She fianlly died about 3 years ago.. Chrismas Eve Day.. She had had a rough couple weeks.. So I had decided she needed to stay in the Laundry room which is right next to the Kitchen..
She seemed very content there.. as she could see me.. Watch me in the Kitchen.. baking & cooking.. & she was relaxed & rested..
We had a very long talk the night before.. & when I woke up Christmas Eve Morning.. She had gone to sleep for the last time..
I Really thought Jake wouldn't last much past Jewel.. he loved her so very much.. he cried for her even when she started slowing down..
But he didn't.. he just seemed to sadden a bit.. but kept on being Jake.. The Same Old Sweet Jake everyone knew & Loved so dearly.. Just a slower Jake..
Then about the last 6 months.. you could tell that old Curse of the German Shepard hip thing started to kick in for my baby..
He never complained of course.. But you could just see it..
THEN he started this.. Random Peeing.. Really quite out of Character for our old Gentleman.. Peeing all the time.. Anytime.. & Anywhere..
If it weren't pitiful.. it would be funny..
Ok.. it was funny .. & I can say this only because I am the one that has been cleaning UP this PEE!.. this OLD MAN PEE!
& it wasn't just a Little bit of Pee.. no.. thats too much to ask for.. He started to do this Zig Zag type saunter down the hall way.. I started to call him Dean martin.. He sort of Swaggered..
back & Forth as he walked.. & the whole way.. Peeing.. So..
But the time he'd made it to the end of the hall way.. there was this Zig Zag Line of Piss!
I'd Say.. "Oh Jakie.. Come on Man!" & he'd just look up at me with those beautiful big brown eyes of his.. As if to say.. hey.. One day your going to be happy you could wipe up my piss lady..
So.. This went on for quite awhile.. just peeing when he didn't realize it.. not a big deal really.. Then about 3 weeks ago..
He told me that 'Sorry.. But These Hips.. They Really must have an experation date.. Because they don't seem to be working any More My Dear.." I said "That's all right Old man.. I'll carry You..
So.. here it went.. I made him a fresh bed under the tree each morning.. either a new blanket.. or a new bed.. or a new rug..
Carried the Old Man out.. & Hand Fed him.. He had gotten to the point that he needed to have me lift him.. & hold his food bowl too.. & at the end of the day.. I'd have a Fresh Bed Made up For him in the Laundry Room & carry him back inside.. .. Turn him on his OTHER side to avoid Old Man Dog bed Sores....
& give him a fresh brushing.. New Water.. Wash his Face & Clean him up.. Neosporin on any boo boo's.. & Talk to him a bit..
So We had this Routine.. for about 3 weeks..
Then He seemed to be a bit uncomfortable outside.. Too Hot Maybe.. Or the Insects i'm Not Sure.. but I felt that he wasn't able to move around to get away from what ever may be irritating him.. So I Said Jake Needs to come inside for Good..
So.. in the Laundry Room My Old Baby Boy Came...
Every day.. Same Deal.. Breakfast.. Face Wash.. Sponge Bath ..
Body boo boo Check.. New Bed.. & Turn over..
Luckily for my Sweet Heart.. It only went on for him another 4 days.. We Tucked our Pumpkin Jake in for the Last Time LAst Sunday Nite.. We Woke up Monday the 14th & he was gone..

So.. as Sad as i am at loosing such a Sweet Loyal friend..
It's Such a relief to know that he's finished with this journey..
& we were all so very lucky to have known such a wonderful Dog!
I Hope who ever Finds him in his "Next" life has as much a pleasure with him as we did!

love you Jakey!!