Life doesn’t always make sense. And I’m finding that death doesn’t either.
Jade was only one and one-half years old, and had already lived through hardships that would have crippled the best of us.
But I don’t want to talk about the tough life she had. I want to talk about the joy she brought to everyone who knew her.
She was an affectionate little Pocket Pittie who gave love freely to everyone she met. When she’d see you, Jade would wiggle and waggle and wrap herself around you, giving kisses with abandon.
She’d make you smile even when you didn’t feel like smiling. Her joy of life was irrepressible and totally contagious.
I’ve been around rescue work long enough to know how I should be thinking about this.
We pulled her from Death Row and didn’t allow her life to end in a shelter.
We put her into loving foster homes, where the people she lived with gave her heaps of love and attention.
She played for weeks in doggie daycare, happily rubbing shoulders with dogs three times her size.
And in the last couple of weeks, she found her soulmate in our wonderful rescue, Rupert. The two were inseparable, spending their days and nights together.
As a rescue, we gave her all this. Perhaps it was only for three months, but she had it. And I know that’s a helluva lot more than so many shelter dogs ever get.
But what I know and what I feel aren’t always in sync.
While I’m glad we were able to give her all that we did, all that we could … I will forever wish there had been another year, month or even just a week to give her more.
Jade, sweet girl, you have a permanent place in our hearts.
We will always love you. Rest in peace.
