Jake is in Doggy Heaven.

Jake

Age 10, July 05, 1998 - March 27, 2009

To Jake, who brought light to my life and loved anyone he met.

Nickname: Jakester, Poo-Potter

Jake came at a difficult time of my life. I had breast cancer. While contemplating what I wished I had in my life, I realized I missed having a dog. Our last dog had died in 1994, and due to our active schedule, it didn't seem to be the time to take on the responsibility of another dog.
I found a breeder in the classified ads. Jake was last of the litter. I took him sight unseen because I so desperately wanted to have a dog to share the long hours of recovery. I needed to focus on something that needed me, that didn't care if I had cancer, that I felt sorry for myself or was tired. But in return, would love and accept me for who I was.
After starting radiation therapy, I continued to work part time, returning after 4 hours to find that this small dog had chewed through the heavy plastic of a baby gate or pushed it aside. My fatigue from radiation increased, so I stopped going to work. In the afternoon we would lie on the couch, Jake on my chest, and sleep for hours. He followed me everywhere.
When I returned to work, my son Michael cared for him after school. Jake loved him, especially when Michael ran through the house, carrying him like a football, tossing him (somewhat gently) on the couch. Jake loved this. Our daughter Meredith who was in college, adored him, calling him her "poo-potter".
Jake developed a strong attachment to a teddy bear. It was his love object. He seemed to believe it was alive. When he was given a treat, he always carried it to the bear first, dropped it, nudged him, whined as if trying to get the bear to enjoy it. Only when the bear did not respond to these efforts, Jake would eat the treat.
Years went by; children moved into adult life. Jake was always there for all of us. He loved car rides, company and the massages and rubs enjoyed by dogs everywhere. He always heard the cars in the driveway before anyone else did. He never really did comprehend "Catch". He would return the ball once or twice and then just take it far away, challenging you to catch him. On sunny days he enjoyed sitting on a large flat rock on the hillside in the back of the house. He did not wander far from home. His only "bad" activities outside were rubbing in deer scat and trying to eat off the compost pile.
In February, he became lame. He was diagnosed with a tick borne disease. But even after antibiotics, he continued to be lame. An x-ray showed osteosarcoma with a bad prognosis. He seemed to rally with pain medication and highly nutritious home prepared food. He still wanted to be with us, but his light was fading. The cancer had spread to his lungs. When he stopped eating, he seemed to be telling us that it was time for him to go.
With many tears, we said goodbye, holding him in his last moments.He will be in our hearts forever.