A county deputy responded to a “shots fired” call. He stopped on a country road and stepped out of his vehicle. The next thing he knew, this big black and white dog was sitting in his front passenger seat. Figuring that a local farmer had been shooting at the dog, the deputy took him to Pet Angles Animal Rescue. They named him Jacob and the vet thought he was around 5 years old. Three different families adopted him. All three returned him for…reasons. LG saw his picture in a FB post and contacted the rescue. He’d been adopted a fourth time the week before. We were sad as Cooper, our Landseer Newfoundland had passed a few weeks before and Boone, our other Newf was sad.

A few days later, the rescue emailed LG. She was hesitant to ask, considering Jacob had been returned for a fourth time. We immediately made an appointment to go see him. It was love at first sight and three day’s later, he was ours. He jumped up in the backseat of LG’s truck, and he never looked back. Neither did we.

Jake and Boone did the usual sniff, posture and dance, then settled in to be best buds. Jake’s issues were minor as far as we were concerned. He had separation anxiety. He got into the trash. He counter surfed for food. He didn’t like crates. (One family brought him back because he ate his way through the crate after they’d been specifically told NOT TO CRATE HIM!) Anywasy. All easy fixes. Chips and bread went on top of the fridge. Trash can replaced with a lidded one. I worked from home. If stuff happened while we were gone, we cleaned up, loved him and went on with life.

Then he started cueing in on stuff. LG’s balance problems. My blood pressure and bad knees. He’d come stand next to my chair so I could either brace on him or grab his collar and he’d pull me up. I started training him. He started going everywhere. He loved riding in the car. He loved Starbucks and Walmart. He went to restaurants, laying under the table, quiet and content. He was with his people and he helped them. Boone didn’t like riding in the car. It didn’t bother him at all to stay home.

Jake graduated from Service Dog in Training to Service Dog. We took him with us. I took him with me. Every associate in Walmart knew and loved him. He’d strain the leash to get to firefighters shopping there. He was patient with little kids. He picked out a man shopp;ing with his wife in the bedding department. Jake stood beside him, leaning slightl against his leg. I told the man it was okay to pet. The man’s face was pale and drawn. He looked worn out and it seemed like he was panting a bit as he breathed. He petted and leaned back against Jake. His wife shopped, wide-eyed. I’d already grabbed what I was shopping for and just waited. I watched that man’s color come back. I watched his breathing ease. His wife confessed they’d just come from a chemo treatment and they were always terribly hard on him. She had tears in her eyes as she watched her husband perk up.

Yeah. Jake was that special.

After the cancerous grouwth and tail amputation and the report of it being large-cell carcinoma in his lymph glands, we knew it was just a matter of time. As long as he was comfortable and happy, we didn’t have to decide. He went to Walmart with me. We stopped at Starbucks. Then his steps slowed and he’d lay down each time I stopped to look for something on a shelf. The time was coming. The next time I went to Walmart, he stayed home. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Still, he was eating, drinking, getting around the house. He’d get in the car to go to Starbucks, until he couldn’t. So I made him pup cups at home.

This past weekend, he crashed. After eating some food Saturday morning, he didn’t eat the rest of the day. He drank a lot of water and would go outside, come back in, drink a lot, sleep. Sunday, he’d move about six feet from one spat to another. He wouldn’t go out. He didn’t go out. We cleaned up and knew it was time.

Yesterday, we made The Decision™️. Our vet is the most wonderful lady. As soon as I contacted her on Monday morning, she set us up. LG and I had to carry him to the car. We put him in the cargo area instead of the back seat. He couldn’t stand up. Dr. Rose and her vet tech brought a stretcher out to the car. The two of them and LG got him lifted out of the Highlander and onto the stretcher. We got him inside and settled. We made arrangements for cremation. We petted and loved him and he let out a little sigh. As Dr. Rose said, he’s at peace.

Jake took his final ride and crossed the Rainbow Bridge. He has a big pack waiting for him there. Boone and Pete will be there at the front to greet him. He’s pain free now, has pup cups galore, and all the jerky treats he desires. Knowing Jake, he stopped partway and looked back to Toby and Loki, to LG and me. He wagged his tail and gave one of his barks–the one that said, “See you later.”

See you, later, Jake. You were the best boy ever! 💔❤️