Post by Paul on Dec 23, 2004 10:27:03 GMT 9.5
JUST JODIE.
We would like to share a few thoughts with you of our dog Jodie, who came to us when she was 6 weeks old and sadly, left us when she was just over twelve years of age. In all the years she was with us, we never took a holiday away from her because she would have been most unhappy in kennels. So, we stayed at home and have never had one regret in doing so.
Almost a Labrador - short ears, but in all other respects a Labrador. Father's origin unknown but her mother was a Setter cross.
Jodie had a beautiful nature and was full of fun. She loved to go out in the car with us and sensed when she was allowed to go by the type of clothes we put on. She especially liked travelling in the car with her "Mum" - they were practically inseparable and our car boasted wall to wall dog hair!
In 1981/2 I had two operations, the first relating to a fairly intimate part of my body, resulting in much post- operative pain. To avoid having to get out of bed to visit the toilet I had a medical bottle by my bedside, and had just used it on that particular occasion. Soon after, Jodie came into the bedroom - about two years old at the time, she was always ready for a game, pinching things such as shoes, towels after a shower, handkerchiefs nosed out of peoples' pockets, you name it, she did it!
Espying the "bottle", she made a beeline for it, took the handle in her teeth and ignoring my protests, did a quick 180 degree turn and bolted from the bedroom with her "prize". Sadly, as she whizzed around, she sprayed the contents of the bottle over the carpet, the wardrobe, the bedside cabinet and whatever else was in range. Being immobile, my protestations were totally ignored.
My second operation was due to damaging my right thigh with a circular saw, so I was confined to bed again. Jodie must have known that my right side had been injured, she never attempted to jump up on the right side of the bed, and even when I was mobile again, she walked on the left to avoid my injured side. She had a ton of loving intelligence.
Talking of Jodie's "taking ways", she did not earn too many Brownie points when she nicked off with my partial dentures from the bedside cabinet one morning. Realizing what she had taken, I followed her at some speed and thankfully retrieved the denture in one piece. I washed it and put it in my mouth only to find Jodie had applied sufficient pressure to put them slightly out of shape. Result - $165 repair bill!
When Jodie reached the age of four, she developed arthritis in her hips and the brave girl never whimpered or complained. Over the years it became progressively worse, finally we were lifting her in and out of the car, on to her day couch, and even had to help her up after she had toileted on the lawn.
The dreaded day finally arrived when we could delay the fateful decision no longer. Jodie had developed cardio myopathy, this together with her severe arthritis was just too much for her to bear, it was time to let our dear friend go. Our vet came to our home to put her to sleep, and she died in loving care, her "Mum" patting her at one end, and her "Dad" feeding her Dog Chocs at the other. The Vet administered the lethal dose, and the gentle light went out of her eyes - and a large chunk of love went out of our lives.
Jodie is buried in our back garden and her "Mum" still places flowers on her grave.
©Jack & Leonie Martin. Clapham,SA
We would like to share a few thoughts with you of our dog Jodie, who came to us when she was 6 weeks old and sadly, left us when she was just over twelve years of age. In all the years she was with us, we never took a holiday away from her because she would have been most unhappy in kennels. So, we stayed at home and have never had one regret in doing so.
Almost a Labrador - short ears, but in all other respects a Labrador. Father's origin unknown but her mother was a Setter cross.
Jodie had a beautiful nature and was full of fun. She loved to go out in the car with us and sensed when she was allowed to go by the type of clothes we put on. She especially liked travelling in the car with her "Mum" - they were practically inseparable and our car boasted wall to wall dog hair!
In 1981/2 I had two operations, the first relating to a fairly intimate part of my body, resulting in much post- operative pain. To avoid having to get out of bed to visit the toilet I had a medical bottle by my bedside, and had just used it on that particular occasion. Soon after, Jodie came into the bedroom - about two years old at the time, she was always ready for a game, pinching things such as shoes, towels after a shower, handkerchiefs nosed out of peoples' pockets, you name it, she did it!
Espying the "bottle", she made a beeline for it, took the handle in her teeth and ignoring my protests, did a quick 180 degree turn and bolted from the bedroom with her "prize". Sadly, as she whizzed around, she sprayed the contents of the bottle over the carpet, the wardrobe, the bedside cabinet and whatever else was in range. Being immobile, my protestations were totally ignored.
My second operation was due to damaging my right thigh with a circular saw, so I was confined to bed again. Jodie must have known that my right side had been injured, she never attempted to jump up on the right side of the bed, and even when I was mobile again, she walked on the left to avoid my injured side. She had a ton of loving intelligence.
Talking of Jodie's "taking ways", she did not earn too many Brownie points when she nicked off with my partial dentures from the bedside cabinet one morning. Realizing what she had taken, I followed her at some speed and thankfully retrieved the denture in one piece. I washed it and put it in my mouth only to find Jodie had applied sufficient pressure to put them slightly out of shape. Result - $165 repair bill!
When Jodie reached the age of four, she developed arthritis in her hips and the brave girl never whimpered or complained. Over the years it became progressively worse, finally we were lifting her in and out of the car, on to her day couch, and even had to help her up after she had toileted on the lawn.
The dreaded day finally arrived when we could delay the fateful decision no longer. Jodie had developed cardio myopathy, this together with her severe arthritis was just too much for her to bear, it was time to let our dear friend go. Our vet came to our home to put her to sleep, and she died in loving care, her "Mum" patting her at one end, and her "Dad" feeding her Dog Chocs at the other. The Vet administered the lethal dose, and the gentle light went out of her eyes - and a large chunk of love went out of our lives.
Jodie is buried in our back garden and her "Mum" still places flowers on her grave.
©Jack & Leonie Martin. Clapham,SA
