Every Dog Has His Day

They say that every dog has his day, and Friday the 4th of October was our beloved white-whiskered Jack's day. In his own dignified and peaceable way, Jack made it known that this was his time and that he was ready to leave us.

Mark and Jack with The Dutchess - waiting for a sausage roll delivery on His Day

Over the past two weeks we have had time to consider exactly how Jack came to this decision. He chose a day that was warm and sunny and perfect for lying about on the lawn, and a day where our human schedules were easily put aside. He chose a day where our good friends could all gather and farewell him and where there was a good chance of there being sausage rolls and chips on offer for lunch.

Every dog lover wrestles with this decision. But Jack sent us a clear sign.  Not one of distress or pain or urgency. He sent a sign that what was happening inside him was now in its own motion, past its tipping point from being hidden to being obvious and irreversible in its nature.

Jack's Cherry Tree

Our noble, beautiful, distinguished gentleman now rests beneath a newly planted cherry tree on 10 beautiful acres of land overlooking a vineyard and our lovely Lake Wanaka. A special place for us for so many reasons, but to Jack this spot was simply the only place in his 13 years that he ever managed to actually catch a rabbit (despite giving chase with characteristic doggy optimism countless times over his life). He caught that rabbit by doing what he did best - waiting in patience, snoozing and knowing when the time would be right - and that rabbit ran right into his yawning mouth. He was 12 years and 10 months old at the time. Jack, our fur lined philosopher - when the dog is ready, the rabbit will come.

We knew every hair on his head, every wrinkle in his brow and the meaning of every sigh, wag and snuffle. Annie, The Dutchess has never known a life here without him. She too is lost without his sentinel's presence. Everyone who loves a dog knows this feeling.

We wrapped Jack in his favourite Ice Barker in case it is chilly on the way to the next life that he alights. In our adaptation of the ancient tradition of burying a dog with a piece of fat in their mouth and wishing that in their next life a dog be reincarnated as a human, we placed his favourite treat of dried beef lung with him and wished than in his next life he comes back to bring all that he has again to our world as only a Dog can.

Every spring when that cherry tree signals the warmth of spring that every Ridgeback loves we will see again the Dog that changed our lives. We are pretty sure there will be no rabbits around that tree, just Jack snoozing and waiting for the world to come around to his way of thinking. No more tears now, just good memories and snippets of philosophy from the World According to Jack that bring us laughter and insight in equal measure. Cheers to you Jack.