It’s just us now, me and Jackie Chan, doing our thing. Is it weird, off, and/or unusual? Yep sometimes, but its our new normal we’ll get through it, together.
In the weeks since Bolo’s passing, we’ve been getting into our groove, and after ten years with each other, it’s all so new. We’re leaning on each other and developing our relationship in this unknown place we find ourselves in.
Jackie has always been a loner and very hypersensitive, as once her brother disappeared all those years ago, she was like a wild child running the streets terrorizing ever motorcyclist that dared to ride through her neighborhood. This hasn’t changed too much, she still chases bikes, and is still just a tad naughty. Way back then, this is how she earned her nickname, The Terror.
I named her Jackie Chan as when she was a small puppy, she’d spot me very far away and then head straight for me as fast as she could, launch herself amazingly high to land(bounce) on me, immediately bounding right off twisting in the air landing on her feet like a cat. It was like she was doing some strange kung fu gymnastic combination. She was crazy, a total nutter, but she really needed positive attention, the poor girl had never been given that.
Jackie Chan is ageing it seems, or maybe it’s just all the change and loss in her life. We once were a pack of four with Bolo as the alpha, her older sister Khao Wai, and finally Baby JC. See was so bonded to each of them. Now it’s just her and I, and life is calm, days are quiet, and walks are not as high-powered as they once were. Well, only with the caveat that when I let her off lead and she sees the Bolo lookalike, she goes mental – and it’s on!
The mornings are so silent it’s almost spooky. She sleeps on her bed in her room until she pops her head in to see me, and confirms if she gets to go out for a walkabout. She comes right up and gives me some serious eye contact, which often turns to side-eye as more often than not we go for an evening walk, which I enjoy much more due to the stunning sunsets we’re often blessed with, not to mention the cooler temperatures.
She’s more clingy, sticks by my side quite a bit, and that’s uncommon for her. She stays with me while I work, and seems to be much more patient than before. And when we’re walking, she’s lost a bit of her, hmmm, how should I put it? Spontaneity maybe? No, that’s not it. Enthusiasm.
We often wonder what our animals are feeling, don’t we? I think right now, Jackie is still feeling grief and abandonment. I’m doing my best to make sure she feels loved and cared for, and spoiled too, with all of her favorite things. That’s what I can do for her, and in doing that, I’m helping myself too.
Times are tough at this moment, and we’re all going through our own struggles and strain in this more than not terrible year of 2020. We cannot possibly understand what others are going through, but we can make them feel better by being kind and respectful of their feelings. And please don’t forget, that includes our pets!
How do you look after your pet once their best friend has left them? I’d love to hear your stories.
What a sensitive owner you are Kelly. Jackie hss you all to herself now…what better life can she have?
Thanks Josie, I’d like to think most people would feel the same for their dogs. She’d love a dog friend but that’s not going to happen, so we’ll settle for our time and the occasional meet and greet with a boy dog on our walkabouts.
When Duchess left Ellie and I it was a terribly.upsetting time for us both. Ellie was utterly bereft and howled for her mum for many months. But in that time we started to form a new relationship. Ellie opened her heart up wide to me and we found joy in our new partnership, the just us team we had for that year. I watched Ellie grow out into the world during that year and in many ways thrive post Duchess. It was hard, especially in the first month, but ultimately joyful and exciting as we started a new adventure that a year later would lead to a new world. Almost a year after Duchess died I met Emma, a year after that Morris came into our lives and Ellie had a new love, a very different dog to Duchess, he has given Ellie fun and fiest in abundance. Hang in there and if you can enjoy the narrative unfolding. With hope it will be a positive one.
Thank you, I love hearing how well Ellie is doing(and you, Emma and Morris). I know how much she loved her mum. Jackie Chan is doing alright as she’s quite a loner, but it’s just different, quiet. It has been positive so far and as long as she gets plenty of exercise she’s okay. And that’s good for me too! XX
Very cool!!
Love this! Stanley is in the hospital right now and I can tell Gaela misses his constant attention he gives her. It’s so heartbreaking that we can’t have our dogs longer. Pray for my boy.❤️I really didn’t think this year could get any worse.😢
Oh no Bonnie, I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope it’s nothing too serious and he’ll be home soon. Worst year ever for sure, would love if our dogs could stay with us for a lifetime. Thinking of you all and special kisses for Gaela – and Stanley when he gets home. XX
When Hugo and Trixie leftthis world we were devastated ,what started out a normal morning walk ,turned into a nightmare .Hugo ,Trixie and Lily ate poison .Lily survived, but sadly Hugo passed on the way to the vet and Trixie left us 2 days later .Lily was so close to Hugo ,they were inseparable and Trixie was their leader .Lily stopped eating and was clearly depressed ..Pete my husband was due to fly to the uk a couple of days later so it was just me and lily ,we were both lost in grief and plenty of tears were shed .Now 15 months later we have Harriet and Jackson .we are all happy again ,but Hugo and Trixie remain in our hearts .,and the odd tear still falls ..
Bless you Kelly
Oh Lynne, I’m so glad you’ve been able to create a new pack even through your grief. It’s such a heartbreaking story, I’m shedding some tears just reading it. One cannot even imagine. All my love to your family, two and four-leggers. They have found the kindest person in you! XX