Jackie Parkin's Blog

As 2010 begins and we say good-bye to 2009, I am reminded of the many dogs lost in the past year.   2009 was a rough year for dog losses.   I personally have lost four dogs since last February …. three of which were too young to go.   And many of my friends also lost dogs in 2009 …  and many, like mine, were too young to be passing on.    Disc dogs; flyball dogs; agility dogs; and family companions all now residing at the Rainbow Bridge.   There were far too many losses.  Too many good-byes.

For those of us with multiple dogs, our hearts will be broken time and time again.    It’s a casualty of  loving dogs as we do.   And yet, we cannot let go of our passion for dogs.    I would like to share a wonderful quote that someone sent to me a few days ago when I said good-bye to my faithful husky, Ranger.

“We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own, live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached.
Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way.
We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan”    (Irving Townsend)

Good-Bye and Godspeed to all the wonderful dogs who graced this world and the lives of the people who loved them.   To all the sport/performance dogs that brought  joy to thousands of people.  To every dog that brought a smile to a childs face or touched the heart of a lonely person.   And to my dogs … Ruffian, Daphne, Buddy, and Ranger …..   my sorrow, like my love for you, runs deep.

2010 is a New Year & time to turn my attention to the youngsters.  To take the lessons taught by the dogs who’ve passed on, and honour their memory by applying what I’ve learned to the education of their successors.    So here’s to 2010 …. new beginnings, new hopes, and new dreams.

This holiday season started off  in a very sad place.   On December 8th, one of my border collies, 13yr old Buddy, passed away after a month of illness.  And then on Dec. 12th, Chase the beagle, who was adopted through my rescue, spooked and bolted from  his new home.   We hoped and prayed for a Christmas Miracle … and we got one!

At a time of year when most people are consumed with Christmas festivities and shopping, this group of individuals took time away from family, friends, parties etc. to give their time to the task of finding Chase.   Before work.   After work.   And sometimes even ‘at’ work …. these individuals tirelessly devoted themselves to a little beagle that they had never even met.   Foot patrols walking the streets, parks, and ravines searching for Chase.   Others posting flyers … flooding the area with signs that said “Have You Seen This Dog?”.   Fifteen Thousand flyers were distributed.   And on Boxing Day when most people are out taking advantage of the sales, the Team Chase Search & Rescue volunteers were out at the malls distributing flyers and talking to shoppers … “Have You Seen This Dog?”    And volunteers local to Toronto,  gave their phone numbers as 24hr contacts in the event that Chase was spotted.  It was truly a herculian task.  This was truly an amazing group of people & without them, I do not know how I would have coped.

By the time I got there Chase had moved to another backyard but the team had eyes on him and had blocked all potential escape routes. Chase had made his way down the side of a house in a space approximately 2ft wide between the house and the fence.   He was lying down in the back corner.    I will never forget  the sight of that small, scared, shivering little dog curled up, and looking so pathetic.    As I approached him he looked worried and for a moment I thought he might bolt.   I talked to him and brought my retriever, Kahlua, up to the fence line.   Chase & Kahlua are buddies so it was my hope that if he didn’t recognize me, he might recognize her.    At first he leaned away but I kept talking to him & then …. his little tail started to wag.    Kahlua put her nose to the fence to sniff him, and his little tail wagged faster.   Recognition!!!    He came right up to me & took the hotdogs I had for him.   And when I stood up, he stood up to the fence wagging and I was able to reach over and take hold of his harness.    Mitch, one of the rescuers,  looped a leash onto him and we lifted him out.   Mitch had him in her arms and we just hugged him and kissed him and cried.  

Chase traveled home sharing a crate with Kahlua.   He slept soundly all the way home, using Kahlua’s rump as a pillow.   As I type this, he is sleeping beside me  in the kitchen.   He went to the vet this past week & got a clean bill of health.   He’s a survivor!

This past Saturday, January 2nd, we had a Celebration/Thank You party for the Chase Search & Rescue Team;  and Chase was the guest of honour    You can read Chases story and see lots of photo’s taken at his party and also at home after he was found, on his facebook page at  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=photos&ref=mf&gid=237200909594#/group.php?gid=237200909594.

Chase is the dog on the far left in this photo taken at the Chase Search & Rescue celebration/thank you party for his rescue team