And Then There Were None

Sadly, today we had to say good-bye to our sixth and final dog, Ellie. Here she is pictured above in what was her usual position for the past five or six months. She had dementia, incontinence, arthritis, she was blind, deaf, and only walked in circles to the right. It was time.

As a youngster she was full of it, just like every Jack Russell, ever. Aside from the usual scraps, breaks, and issues, our favorite story of her is that she wasn't eating like usual and was lethargic for a few weeks. We tried everything we could think of, took her to the vet and they couldn't figure out why, until the vet said it looks like there is a blockage in her stomach and she was going to do surgery to go in and find out what it was.

We got a call several hours later from her letting us know that they found out what the problem was. She had eaten a mini Brillo pad. Even the vet said that took the cake for her too. Only a Jack.

She had a major nemesis back in Chicago, Mr. Squirrell. He would sit on the window ledge and just stare at her while she lost her mind. Every day for an hour or two we enjoyed the shrill screeching of Ellie until she lost her voice only to repeat it the next day. I would guess it is her only regret in life that she couldn't catch that vermin and break its neck.

Ellie got her name because we bought her from a pet store in Chicago located underneath the elevated tracks and before we were even in the car I told Linda her name had to be Ellie. We had four other Jack's and one Westie in our forty eight years together. Well, actually five other Jacks but that one only lasted a couple of days before Linda sold her to someone else.

Daffy, the Westie was mostly terrier but slightly laid back. Zippy, our first Jack and second dog, was the mom dog of the brood. She had incredible patience with all of the puppies to follow and she ruled the house with an iron paw. They all respected her and did as she demanded. She also knew the most tricks and all you had to do was show her a treat and she would go thru all of them in ten seconds.

Buttons was the smartest and best trained of all our dogs. I could take her to Michigan Avenue at Christmas time without a leash and she would not leave my side. We have no idea why she was this way because we certainly didn't train any of them but she was special.

At the other end of the behavioral spectrum was the aptly named Stinky. She only lived six years before succumbing to cancer but it was a rock star life. Live fast, play hard, die young. Mabel was just a flat out nut. She was funny, a trickster, and she loved to snuggle. She could have just woken up from a six hour nap and if she saw us lie down on the couch she would jump up, move an arm out of the way, and settle in for another nap. She made us laugh several times each day.

Ellie was the sweetest of them all. She loved people, especially little kids. She was always happy when company came by and she would give you kisses until you needed a shower to clean off. She was one of the chattier ones too, always had to get in the final word while staring you down.

From puppy to a senior, Ellie was our good girl and she managed to avoid death for nineteen years. She is also our last dog forever. It is time for Linda and I to enjoy our retirement without mom's and dog's keeping us at home and tied down. We loved them all but it is our time now.

Goodbye sweet girl.