Jake, Our Lancashire Heeler
Jake came from the Heeler rescue on Feb 18th 1997, we decided on a rescue dog as we were finding life hard without a dog after our first heeler Zack was tragically taken from us aged 5, in the dec of 1996. Jake was a little younger (4 ish), but he had a curly tail- like Zack's, but tipped ears which made him look a little distinguished, so it was meant to be! He was overweight when we got him, and could be a little grumpy due to his rocky start, but he soon settled in and mellowed- and lost weight (he went from 10.8kg to a more trim 9.7kg). He was such a handsome chap.
He always acted a little like an old man -but he had his puppyish moments! Jake had separation anxiety- so we got him a puppy- Loki (also in picture who is now 10 and still hasn't grown up) as he was the nephew of Zack- Jake did a wonderful job of being 'big brother' to Loki, and later to DobeX GSD puppy Kulu- who as a result thinks she's a heeler!
Jake had a peaceful life, with Josie and Rod Hine in Bradford, who went for long walks in the Dales every weekend, when he wasn't visiting Jess and Neil in Gloucester (where she moved to go to Uni). Jake got on very well with Jess's dogs- Kulu, another rescue heeler called Flaxley and a Bellsmond bitch puppy Thistle. He loved to walk around Malvern and in the forest of dean.
Jake loved his food, and had a last meal of chicken and rice.
He left us (heartbroken) late in 2007, aged 15ish, after living for 4 years after being diagnosed with a heart murmur.
He is now resting under the plumb tree in Josie and Rods garden.
Jess Flanagan
The Power Of The Dog - by Rudyard Kipling
There is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.
Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie--
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head.
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.
When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet's unspoken prescription runs
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find--it's your own affair--
But...you've given your heart for a dog to tear.
When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!);
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone--wherever it goes--for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart for the dog to tear.
We've sorrow enough in the natural way,
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we've kept 'em, the more do we grieve:
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long--
So why in Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?
