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| Hank will have a friend to play with in his new home |
It was a very busy day at Tai Po today, and although only puppy Hank left the Homing Centre there are a few other dogs who will hopefully be making the final walk out of the gates and heading off to their new respective lives very soon.
Shih tzu couple Dolly and Gavin were adopted today, and while younger Dolly had already been offered a few homes before I wanted to hang on until they could stay as a pair. Sometimes a bond between two dogs is very clear, and Dolly and Gavin were always together whatever they were doing. Today their big day came and they left the Homing Centre to begin their new family life, so it was worth the wait.
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| After a long wait Dolly and Gavin leave Ap Lei Chau together |
At the same time I got this message from the adopters of another pair who also waited so they could stay together, and while it made me cry it also made me happy knowing that we did the right thing for Dolly and Gavin. Get your tissues out for this lovely story:
"Jack was put to sleep yesterday morning. Thanks for your help over the years.
Below please find Jack’s Story. We know that he would love you to read it.
RIP Jack".
Hi - My name is Jack. I was 15 years old when I went to the Land of the Big Dreams. I wish to tell my story.
The first 9 years of my life I remember very little about. I know that I was born as a pug and called Dun Gwai and was owned by a Chinese lady, but all of a sudden, I ended up in Ap Lei Chau at Hong Kong Dog Rescue together with my sister, 8 Mui. It was an awful place for a King like me (sorry Sally – know you do your best but as a King I expect more!). We even got some strange names - mine was Punch and Sis was Judy. One day 6 years ago this strange looking couple came to see my Sis and me – I thought they would never return as Sis got into a fight with another dog when they were there. There was even another guy who said that pugs never bark. Hmm – obviously – he didn’t know the two of us.
I was very popular and many people wanted me – but no one wanted Sis – probably because she was starting to lose her sight and had bad skin, and Sally wanted us to be stay together so we remained in Ap Lei Chau. However, a few weeks later the man returned and took us with him.
We went first in a taxi, and then on a ferry to my future Kingdom – Discovery Bay - where the woman waited for us. They told us that our names were Jack and Sophie. I like those names a lot better. While Sassie (Sophie’s nickname – mine became Jacky-boy although Mum and Dad would call me little Hippo in the first couple of years where I was a bit heavy) always had been very well trained, eg walking in leash, sitting when begging for food, doing her stuff outside – I was a King – that means while I did my stuff outside no one mastered me. On the second my Dad found out that I would never allow him to walk me in a leash so he unleashed me and I followed him and Mum ever after.
(Jack napping, 2012)
After a few months Sassie had become the leader of the pack – or so she thought – she would not tolerate any other dogs around my Mum, Dad and me and she quite often got herself into trouble with other doggies. That happens when you are a small pug but believing you are a Lion – so I did my best to bark with Sassie – when needed. Me – on the other hand – I was the naughty. funny and smart one. I loved barking at the mail man, delivery man, any one who came into the flat. I would never bite anyone – a bark was enough to scare them. I also loved to roll my pillow. It took some times before Mum and Dad finally found out that I did it with my front paws and snout.
(Jack and his rolled pillow, 2013)
When I walked with Dad – Dad always had to look back for me as I loved to fall behind and sniff before catching up – often taking shortcuts. Even when walking up the stairs I would wait until Sassie and Dad was almost at the top before I would run up. One of my favorite things was to take a peek around the corner of a wall when we came to one particular spot.
(Jack taking a peek around the corner, 2014)
Sassie and I regularly got into some sibling rivalry – one time – Sassie even bit my Mum by accident – boy was Sassie afraid that she had done something stupid. My Dad even emailed Sally – who kindly told my Dad – never to use your hands when trying to separate two dogs – smart advice!
And so for the first 4 years we had a blast. My Mum had given up her full-time work for us (I know – I am a King!) so she only worked a few hours every day and usually came home after lunchtime. Sassie and I would sleep for a few hours in the morning, until we would wait for the favorite treat of the day – Greenies when Mum came home. My Mum and Dad called them chewies. Any dog who is not getting chewies – is missing something – that is for sure. Our daily routine was that my Dad would take us for a walk at 6am before feeding us and going to work. My Mum would take us out when she came home, feed and walk us in the afternoon before Dad would come home in the Evening and take us out one last time in the day. Whenever it was sunny weather I would lie in the sun taking sunbath either indoor or outdoor. I loved the Sun – so much that Mum was always afraid that I would get a heatstroke. She should know that I did go to the shadows when my body was nice and extra warm.
(Jack sun bathing, 2016)
Water on the other hand – is a different story. Sassie and I even went to Petworld on holidays. Sassie always hated the first day – would just sit the first day, while I would explore. One time Mum and Dad had asked Polly whether she could try us in the pool. What a stupid idea. Mum and Dad knows that the only water I like is what I drink. When it rains I tried my best to avoid going out – Mum and Dad even tried to put a raincoat on me. Another stupid idea – and thank Doggie God that they stopped doing that. And bathing – hated that as well – only tolerated it because of the chewie Mum would give me after having done my nails. But off in the pool I went wearing a flotation vest until I was pulled out again. Thank Doggie God again that this was the only time.
My Dad tried to play with me but never learned how to play. My Mum on the other hand – boy did she know how to play. I loved playing with Mum. Dad on the other hand had some nice long legs. When Dad would sit down on the floor there was competition between Sassie and I who would be the first to climb Dad’s legs and lie down. Sometimes Sassie won and sometimes I won. Sometimes when I won, Sassie would climb up anyway so the two of us would lie on Dad. Not fair - but boy those 4 years were the golden time of my life. Also, when Dad or Mum said some strange words I got very curious and liked to tilt my head.
(jack and his tilted head, 2012)
After 4 years we moved apartment – I liked the new apartment – it was more spacious, although the outdoor areas were not as good as the previous place. However, I did meet 2 outdoor cats – Missy and Thomas. They are sister and brother – just like Sassie and I. One morning when Dad walked us, Missy decided to walk with Sassie and I and a few months later Thomas joined. That became a daily routine for some time. Boy – were we a sight Sassie in a leash and Missy, Thomas and I following. There were quite a few people smiling.
But 5 months after our move something strange happened. One day out of the blue – I woke up with no recollection what just happened. I was slightly confused. My Mum and Dad called it a seizure and took me to the Vet. At first it was a nice vet called Justin but later on Joanne became my preferred Vet. She would always take good care of me. I started to get some pills – a lot actually – I didn’t like them but Mum and Dad buried them in some irresistible treat – pill pockets – so boy – what could I do but eat them. Over the next 8 months the same thing would happen and sometimes more than once in a day. Boy – I can tell you – having these socalled seizures – are very tiring and I stopped barking at strangers and it was harder for me to play with Mum. I stopped climbing Dad’s legs and even if he put me there I would get off again. I would much rather be in the soft beds which Mum and Dad always had made available to Sassie and I and lie next to Dad. We even got blankets on top of us when it became too cold. Loved it and could stay there forever.
Did I forgot to mention how handsome I am. While Sassie was the ugly looking one which only a Dad and Mum can love I was the good looking one with a puggie baby face. Kids would always come and pet me. I even took it as a compliment when they started calling me puppy right to the end.
(Sassie and Jack, 2016)
Then in Chinese New Year last year while Mum was away – I got these seizures non-stop. Dad tried what he could with the Diazepam but it was not working so he had to take me to this Vet hospital called the Ark. People there were very friendly, but life was just not the same anymore. After the Ark my Dad took me to another specialist in Peace Avenue. Again Diane and team were very nice, but we all kind of knew that Life would never be the same. I started to circle to my left and over the next year despite repeated visits to Diane and different type of pills I had less and less strength. I did enjoy the many taxi rides my Dad and I took. He would always allow me to look out of the windows while giving me treats. Hmm Yummy – although Sassie – hope you don’t have to do the same.
(Jack on top of Sassie, 2017)
It was getting harder to walk and my outdoor walks became shorter and shorter. Dad and Mum knew that I didn’t have the strength anymore. I started to lose some sight, and didn’t want to smell anymore. I still loved my food, snacks and drinks – though – I had plenty of energy for that and walking within the flat I could manage. Even though – I still lost a bit of weight. My Mum and Dad used to laugh at me and call me a chipmunk as I liked to store food in my cheeks and eat later. Mum would massage my cheeks to make me eat my storage. I even manage to bark at them when they didn’t serve me quick enough. Amazingly, I lasted 21 months from my first seizure, but last weekend I had another clusters of seizures – the first after 1 year. This one was bad. I was rushed back in the middle of the night to the Ark when Mum and Dad eventually were running out of Diazepam. They knew this time it was different as I think I left them know a few times that it was hurting now. After many tests – the Ark – could not find anything wrong with me – Ha – I told you so – I am in perfect health – except my brain which they couldn’t check. Mum and Dad took me back to Diane where I again experienced a memory lapse. This time different though, apparently – they had taken a MRI scan of my brain. I know it was not good news when Mum and Dad started to cry – even before the scan. The didn’t show me the picture – really didn’t matter anymore as I could not walk anymore and were also in pain. Apparently, I had a strange thing in my brain called a tumor – which was 1/3 of my front left brain. How on earth – did it get in there – anyway – now I knew why I got a headache.
My Mum and Dad kept on crying on the way back home where they brought me to say goodbye to Sassie – It was a painful night. I think I only slept 2 hours – the rest of the time I was just in so much pain – even with the pain medication I had been given. Mum took great care of me – she hugged me most of the night, while my Dad took me out for a walk or two in his arms.
The next morning – boy were I in for a treat – gone was my headache – when I got my favorites, eggs and bananas. Hadn’t got banana for some time as I tended to get a stomach upset. Shortly after I said goodbye to Sassie and Mum while Dad carried me to most of the places we used to walk before reaching to the Vet where Joanne was waiting. The walk was very peaceful although I couldn’t really recognize anything anymore At the Vet I got my remaining favorites – pill pockets and I went into the land of the big dreams with my Dad next to me and chewies in my belly, my cheeks and my tongue with my head in Mum’s cap and Sassie’s cover.
I know that Dad and Mum miss me as I can see them cry over and over and keep saying see you later in some strange languages. If I got it right they say Vi ses and Hanggang sa muli - Jacky-boy. I would love to see them again but hope not too soon.
Sassie is missing me as well. She no longer has me to tell her when it is dinnertime or a second bowl to finish. I loved to stay in the kitchen 30 minutes before dinnertime waiting for Mum or Dad to feed us. If Mum had bought roasted chicken – hey I would stay in the kitchen waiting for hours. I would do that all the way until last week. Sometimes I would even sit up trying to stay awake – just to be sure I got my dinner. I would eat slowly so Sassie would do her best after having finished hers to eat my food before I was finished. At first I could defend myself but later I needed Mum and Dad’s help. Sassie would get a tiny bit though. Well – no more – sorry Sassie. She did know I was sick though. She already told me so 2 years where we stopped with our rivalry – she said it was not fair as I was no longer a match – hmm
The Land of the Big Dreams is my 2nd blast. No more pills, seizures or pain and I can now run again and play with other doggies. I think there is even one or two I know. I can even see Mum, Dad and Sassie. Today they went the same walk I did yesterday together with Dad and at the same time. Dad got very emotional when he realized that he forgot my cover, but that’s ok – I still saw it. Love you.
I didn’t manage to experience my 2nd Chinese year of the Pug – oh sorry – Dog – but hey – 15 years is pretty good – yeah?
That was my Story – Cheerio – see you later alligator!
Jack
(2003-2018)
(Our beloved Jackie-boy, 2015)
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| William and Harry were earning their keep at Topshop today |
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