Jul
29

Fare well, Jester

Last week I posted about my trip to the San Francisco Bay Area, where
we were able to rescue ten dogs who have since settled in nicely, some have already been adopted.
Our two Let’s Adopt! girls Sophia and Esperrranza are awaiting their spay surgery and glamour shots…
One of the dogs we pulled was a dog we named Jester. We were told he just needed a dental and had some nail problems, but was otherwise in good health.

Jester

Well – in actuality, Jester’s organs were shutting down and he was dying.
It is with great sadness that I have to report Jester’s passing. He was the 8 yr. old Aussie shepherd mix, who in the end could barely walk, and was unable to hold his bowels.
After long talks with my rescue partners, two different vet opinions, I made the decision to relieve Jester from his suffering.
Here’s what I wrote to my fellow rescuers that day:
I picked up Jester from Dogstar at about 12:30PM.
I had planned to take him on a nice walk, feed him some steak and then take him to the vet.
Unfortunately, his hind-legs wouldn’t cooperate, so we took him straight into my car.
We arrived at my vet’s clinic with lots of time to spare – so we sat down, soaked up some sun, Jester had his steaks which he loved so much, he licked my fingers clean
I gave him big belly rubs, thinking of all of you, who have shown so much goodwill toward this boy.
When it was time, we strolled into the office – everyone knew and was so kind.
They took him back to set the catheter. My vet gave him a quick exam and agreed that this was a dog in A LOT of discomfort.
I brought a cozy blanket for Jester, and we settled down for a while. I gave him more hugs and kisses. Mark, the vet entered the room, set down on the floor with us and asked me whether I was ready. Well, when are you ever ready for this, but this was about Jester not me, so I said yes.
The first order of business was to find the cookie jar.
Mark fed Jester lots of cookies. Then it was my turn, while Mark did his work…. Jester literally passed away while munching on cookies.
We agreed that we wanted to be fed Sundaes as well before we “go out” some day.
This was the best we could have done for Jester and he wasn’t scared, he wasn’t stressed. He was calm, happy, a belly full of steaks and cookies.

I am still very upset with the shelter or whoever gave this false information. Jester should have NEVER spent a week at Martinez. They should have put him to sleep the day he came in. That would have been humane. Whoever had a chance to look at him for more than 2 minutes, MUST have seen that there was something terribly wrong with this dog.

I am annoyed with his former companions, I am sure he was a loyal friend to. How dare they just dumped him at a killer pound, with all the stress and noise to have him sit there in pain, confusion, suddenly abandoned with out the comforts of home. What has he done? He was sick, not a criminal. The least an animal’s caretaker MUST do is give their animals a dignified death. This should be a budget item in everyone’s household. As important as rent or a mortgage. To dump this poor dog after 8 something years was so cruel.

Why not take him to a vet and have him go with dignity.

What is wrong with our world?! Has everything and everyone become disposable?

On the other hand I am very glad, he had a week here in Portland where he was loved (the staff at DogStar adored him, and we didn’t have the heart to tell them where we were taking Jester…), well fed, relatively happy considering the pain he must have been in – and we were able to give him a dignified passing.
I’ll get his ashes back in a few days and will spread them at my favorite place here in Portland. A little beach, where the Columbia and Willamette rivers meet…

…Fare well, Jester <3

you touched so many in just the few days we shared.
~Misha

July 29, 2010 // About Let's Adopt! USA, Animal Welfare, rescue // 18 Comments // Tags: Contra Costa County Animal Services, dying with dignity, euthanesia, Martinez shelter, rescue, senior dogs

18 Comments to “Fare well, Jester”

July 29, 2010 at 6:55 PM
Judy Denton says:

I read your posting with a mixture of sadness and happiness. Poor Jester. What a beautiful dog. Thank God you were with him and he knew he was loved when he passed and it was with dignity. I am sharing this story on FaceBook. Thank you for sending me this message. This story breaks my heart.

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July 29, 2010 at 7:02 PM
Dora says:

At least he’s out of his misery and was happy eating his cookies as left to cross the bridge.

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July 29, 2010 at 7:09 PM
Holly says:

What a lovely boy. I am glad he had the chance to see kindness and know love before he left us. You done good, Misha! You gave him safe passage… (and steak).

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July 29, 2010 at 7:15 PM
Jodie York says:

Oh, Misha, this was incredibly touching to read. You are a good woman, blessings and love upon you and Mark for allowing Jester’s passing to be so full of love, comfort, and peace. Blessings and love upon Let’s Adopt!

RIP SWEET JESTER RIP

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July 29, 2010 at 7:22 PM
Patti Aker says:

R.I.P. Jester…

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July 29, 2010 at 7:39 PM
Carole Clifford says:

Misha….what a nice thing you did for that poor baby…I’m sure he was happy at the end. You are right…seems like anymore everything is disposable. It’s a shame that there are not more people that care.!

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July 29, 2010 at 8:41 PM
gin says:

Having recently gone through the pain of having to let my sweet cat go I can fully relate to the bittersweet pain. Knowing that he would be at peace and pain-free,some what eases the pain of my broken heart. Knowing that he now is waiting for me also eases that pain. I will always carry his memory in my heart and never forget him. God bless you for loving and caring for Jester…
Rest in loving peace Jester…and if you see a very handsome fluffy black and white tuxedo,tell Tucker his mom loves him and misses him terribly..

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July 29, 2010 at 9:08 PM
doey says:

how very sad, such a sweetie pie….. gratefully, i understand that dogs do not have the fear of death that we humans do, but his future could have been so much better. thank all who gave this brave boy love for ever so short time he had left…..i am so sorry.

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July 29, 2010 at 11:21 PM
sophie lockhart says:

How could anyone be so cruel as to leave their companion of 8 yrs. to suffer alone. Ty for saving animals. I hate the way some people think animals are disposable when they are not. I love my dogs and cats and I am there for them always. I held my Rotty/Lab cross 2 yrs. ago at 12 yrs. old who had Bone Cancer. It broke my heart but I held her the nite before and told her how much I loved her and ty for the 12 yrs. of happiness. It broke my heart as she was the first I ever held in my arms when she left to the Rainbow Bridge. God Bless you helping animals and being there for Jester when he needed someone.

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July 30, 2010 at 3:11 AM
Paula Nisan says:

I cried as I read thru your post but at the same time was so happy that Jester knew he was loved in the end. I don’t think he knew that before you or else why would someone have been so cruel to have dumped him there. And what you had to do was the hardest of things any loving family has to do regardless of how much we know it is for our friend’s best. You gave him love, comfort, fun times, and in the end dignity.

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July 30, 2010 at 6:53 AM
Marg says:

Oh that is so sad that he had to be in so much pain in the shelter. You are a very special person to care for Jester in the end and we are so glad that he was one of the ones that you picked. At least he had a full belly when he went over the bridge. Thank you, thank you. Have a great week end.

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July 30, 2010 at 8:03 AM
Cathie B. Randall says:

Jester was lucky to spend his last days and hours with the love of such good people. Rest in Peace, sweet boy, and run free at the Bridge…..

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July 30, 2010 at 10:42 AM
Judi says:

That was wonderful what you did for that precious dog!
May God Bless you and your loved ones.

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July 30, 2010 at 12:31 PM
maeshelle says:

thank you for letting him go in a happy way rather than sitting in a shelter wondering why he was there.

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July 30, 2010 at 12:46 PM
Arzu Adakan says:

Misha, my heart breaks for Jester and all of the angels that are abandoned like this. Thank you for giving him the love he deserved in his final days. Tears…

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July 30, 2010 at 2:12 PM
lynda chabane says:

Oh Misha, I feel your pain and your anger, and I now shed tears for Jester’s pain and suffering. As you say, he went in a happy way, no fear…only love. RIP Sweet Jasper, run free and play hard at the Rainbow Bridge sweetheart. Micha, God Bless You for having such a caring heart xxx

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July 30, 2010 at 2:32 PM
Cenk Karayazgan says:

R.I.P. Jester…. I’m so sorry, I can’t imagine how you feel… God bless you all

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August 1, 2010 at 2:25 PM
sujen says:

This story made me cry as all the other euthinasia stories.. I dont think I would ever feel brave enough to give a decision to euathanise. .I can’t take it.
R.I.P Jester..

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