Sunday, April 6, 2008

Emotional.....


We have had our black and white doggy Jax, for 6 1/2 years. He's been a good dog. We've nursed him through parvo, and he has been a fierce protector of our kids.


Well, as he has gotten older he has gotten more aggressive. He loves us and would do anything to protect his family, but there is something off with him lately. The last two days he has been fighting with our other dog, and when Andy went out to stop them Jax bit him.


So tomorrow morning we are going to put him down. We can't take the chance of him biting one of the kids. He's a mix between a Border Collie, and an Alaskan Husky, and has been one of the best dog's we've ever had.


I am so sad, but I know it's for the best. It's hard for all of us. He has been a member of our family for so long. It's funny how you get so attached to an animal who can't talk to you, but is always there to greet you with a wagging tail, and goofy slobbery grin.


Sleep in Peace Jax, Sleep in Peace.
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EDITED........
I guess I didn't make it very clear that Jax was a one family Doggy. Every since he was a puppy he would take after people who were not part of our immediate family. He would not even let extended family members get anywhere near the back yard.


I also mentioned that he has not been himself. He has not been eating well, and just sleeping alot. He wouldn't even join the other dogs at the fence when someone was walking by to bark at them, which was his favorite pass time. So when he started getting more aggressive towards even us, we knew that something was wrong.


This was not a decision that we made lightly, and it's not just because he had bit Andy while Andy was breaking up the dog fight, it was because there was something very wrong with him, and even after the fight was over, Jax kept coming back at Andy.


That is not our Jax. Him and Andy have been through everything together, and were the very best of friends.


We weighed out all of our options, and this was the very best way to go for everyone, although it was very very hard. It's not like we just dumped him off at the shelter. Andy took him to the vet and held him in his arms while they put him down.


Jax will forever be in our hearts, and we will always love him. He is a member of our family. He is the first pet that Andy and I got as a married couple, and we love him. Andy has been packing his collar around in his pocket. This wasn't easy, as Jax has helped us through some pretty tough times.


But it also wasn't fair to let him suffer. We are going to miss him so much.

16 comments:

mjsuperfan said...

Sorry to hear this, but glad you'll have such good memories of him.

Heather said...

I am sure this was a difficult decision for you all. Our dogs ARE a part of our family and lives. I know you will get through this like you have everything else.... with strength and grace.

Sunshine Marketing said...

I had an alaskan husky / American Eskimo mix and the only time he ever was aggresive I took him to the vet and he had cancer. He died that week. So maybe he isnt feeling well? Thats all you need is something else that is sad and stressfull! I am so sorry this is all crashing on you right now!
You can do it- hang in there!
Much Love,
Tami and Thatcher

Anonymous said...

couldn't you find another home for him instead of putting him down?

Em said...

Our dog is like our kid. I always joke that he is the only kid that seems to stick around (horrible right?!) but he has gotten us through so much. I am sorry you are having to say goodbye to him. I feel so strongly that we will be with our dogs again someday,

Mommy to those Special Ks said...

I am so sorry Pam... it's hard to lose a pet :(. I hope the kids handle it ok.

Melissa @ Banana Migraine said...

Are there any no kill animal shelters around that he could go to instead? I'm sorry Pam, I'm sure that is a hard decision to come too. I hope the kids handle it ok.

Niksmom said...

I know that it was a very difficult decision for you to make. Though you will always love and remember Jax, time will heal the ache in your hearts.

mommy to Kaden, Brody and angel Ava said...

Pam, I am so sorry. This brought tears to my eyes as I too had to put one of my dogs down. He was a border collie/austrailan shepard mix. He was also VERY protective and wanted me and only me. I too, had to make the hard decision to put him to sleep. He went after an 80 year old woman and then Nate (who he also warmed up to). We lived next to children and he would continually growl at them. I did try to give him to a couple who lived out on a farm but he was not friendly to them either. He was the type that would growl out the car window when somebody walked by and he actually jumped out of a screen window on my porch to go after the mailman. I loved him so much but I did not want to risk him biting somebody. I sometimes wonder if I did something wrong while raising him.
Anyway, it was a VERY hard decision, but I too held him and hugged him and told him how much I loved him while they put him down. You did what you feel is best and I know that it was REALLY hard to do it. Take care.

Love, Amy

Kari said...

Sorry about your doggy hun! So Sad (((HUGS)))

Kacey Bode said...

Sorry for your loss. Poor dog must not have been well. You have to do what is best for your family and of course what is safest for the kids!! You made the right choice though I am sure it still hurts!

Marla said...

Oh no. I am so sorry. It is so hard when we lose a pet. We had a dog named La La where the exact same thing happened once. She bit Joe and we had to do the same. It was as if someone turned a switch and she changed. The vet thought maybe she had a stroke since her personality changed as if overnight.

Hugs.

Carey said...

Oh Pam, that sucks! Remember we lost our dog 3 days before chelsea was diagnosed. We think about her a lot, and I too saved her collar and we have it hanging downstairs where she used to sleep. I planted some bulbs above where we buried her, so I'm going to go peek out there tomorrow now that we're home to see if they're popping up yet! Giving you a big old cyber hug right now, I know how hard that is.

Kei said...

I'm sorry Pam. I know that had to be such a difficult decision.

HUGS~

Damama T said...

Sorry, Pam. I gotta jump in here because this one has royally pissed off Damama, Ask my kids, that's NOT a good thing!

Dear Anonymous,

HOW DARE YOU?? Number one, you obviously have not been reading Pam's posts at all. This is a family built of, and based on nothing but love and support for one another. Neither Pam nor Andy are the type of people who just sit around trying to figure out ways to deal with issues by taking the easy way out. They have faced what's been dealt to them with courage and integrity, kindness and caring. They have faced the illness of their pet in the same way.

The only selfish and cruel person here is you. You obviously looked at the surface of the situation and made judgements based on your own prejudices and biases. I pity the other people in your life because if this is how you handle everything, then you are probably a very difficult person to live with.

Number two - Anonymous??? Really??? Are you too afraid to log in and give people a chance to respond directly to you? Are you a self-righteous hypocrite who doesn't want anyone to know your true identy for fear they might not like you for being so cruel?

Whatever the reason, I'm going to pray for your heart; for your peace and understanding; for God to give you more kindness than you have shown this family who is already suffering so much. Nobody, even you, deserves to be treated so maliciously.

I wish you peace and blessings, an open mind and an understanding heart.

Pam said...

Thanks Damama!!

Just to shed some light, I deleted the comment that was posted, but it was nasty about how we are horrible people for putting our sick dog down and such.

Anywho.....no bigge. Just some sicko off the internet who doesn't have a life. ;)