Jaguar!

Jaguar!

       Today a fine dog died. She had suffered with congestive heart failure for over a year. This afternoon she went to sleep and never woke up. Jaguar was special to us; she and my dad had formed a special bond. She was not our dog, but she belonged to neighbors who shared her freely.  There were  numerous sleepovers as is evidenced by this picture.  Jaguar was a joy bringer; she made my dad happy.  They shared numerous Ritz cracker bed time snacks on those sleepover nights – those were before she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure.  

 Jaguar felt deeply she had a special friendship with an elderly neighbor, that my dad had helped forge.  This neighbor and his wife kept a jar of animal crackers just for Jaguar.  Daddy would take Jaguar to their house where he taught her to announce herself by barking at the door.  He would also insist that Jag bark her thanks for the cookies.  Jaguar would amuse us all by rolling around on the carpet. Yes, she was spoiled there and allowed on the couch.  Jaguar could work her way into the hearts of anyone who truly loved dogs.  

When our neighbor passed away, Jaguar grieved with the rest of us.  As soon as she arrived at their house, she would run to the bedroom – looking for him.  Looking back it was what we call foreshadowing.  Jaguar was affectionately known as “Therapy Dog,” because she brought so much happiness to people who seemed to be hurting.  As Daddy struggled with health concerns of his own, Jaguar became a frequent companion. 

Then in May, 2012 the unthinkable happened; Daddy was in ICU for many days and was then transferred to Palliative Care. We managed to get Jaguar in to see him on the last of his life – what a joyful reunion. After Daddy passed away, Jaguar would search the house for him and the bed.  I would try to reason with her that he wasn’t coming back.  When I moved to a smaller unit, Jag seemed to accept it was just me.  Jag loved my cooking – that’s more than I can say for me; she ate most of my rejects.  Jaguar was a true friend.  One of our last times together I had an asthma attack, and she followed me as I tried to regain my breath. Even as she was weakening, she remembered that she was Therapy Dog!  The Thursday before she died, we went to the Festival of Lights and of course we took Jag who was enthralled with them. I explained the various displays to her. It was a great memory. Today Jaguar lay down to take a nap and never woke up.  Her passing was peaceful, and her owners were spared the painful decision that many with ill pets have to make.  Her passing did call to mind the passing of  Mom and Daddy – peaceful and in their sleep.  Yes, God is good even as we count our losses.