Murdered while playing...

 In September of 2010, our sweet sweet beautiful boy was shot and killed in his own fenced-in yard by a neighbor with a high-powered rifle. My heart is crushed. We are devastated.  And we will miss him always. The monster that shot him did it for pleasure. The only residence near to us is within a stone's throw directly adjacent to us only separated by a deep ravine-type hollow.  The trailer is not a permanent residence for anyone.  Or hasn't been for about 15 years. It's rented out more often than not to trash that move in and out about every 6 months or so. The woman who was renting it at the time of Jaker's death had frequent parties with male visitors who frequently set up "targets" in the backyard that crossed over onto our property from the side and across the back. The shot that took him down could have ONLY come from the direction of that yard and only with a scope could they have taken him down through the crowded trees. This was confirmed by the deputy that came to take the report.  And the scariest part of this is, that our children frequently played all along that area of our property. Nothing was done. The deputy said that this was an unfortunate incident but that nothing more could be done by them.  I've lived here since 1975 and I've never had a pet shot by any of our long-time neighbors. The "renter" has since moved and it's devastatingly quiet outside now. And for several days following, it even seemed as if the birds and other wildlife were silenced by the shooting.

"One last word of farewell, dear master and mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my... ...happy life with you: 'Here lies one who loves us and whom we loved.' No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail."

~Eugene O'Neill, from his Dalmatian, Blemie's, last will and testament (click here for the full version of Blemie's last will and testament)


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About the above image: This was the perfect day for playing in the snow.  Jakers, who was one of our rescues, constantly dodged and chased the sleigh riders ALL day.  It's a hard job, but some doggies gotta do it! Btw, you may not be able to tell here, but he is further off the ground than it appears and his floppy ears don't normally stand up on their own! We're fairly sure he was part foxhound but not sure what else. ...Maybe, beagle...? (Snow Storm of Dec. 2009, Southwest, Virginia in the mountains of Washington County near Big Tumbling Creek and Saltville.) 



Jakers was a sweet dog. We said he had an "old soul" despite being only 4 years old when murdered. He was kind beyond words and had a deep adoration for his family. Okay, maybe he wasn't so kind to skunks. BUT, I have to say on behalf of his integrity, we never knew him to have actually killed a skunk. ...Just harass them!  And even now, if we get a whiff of that horrid odor we instantly think of Jakers.  It's amusing to think that the smell of skunk can evoke such pleasant and endearing feelings.

I plan to use the above photographs for future pet portraits.  ...Maybe one in graphite and the other in watercolor...

Comments

  1. R.I.P Jackers - gone to soon

    When I read this I have tears in my eyes
    I feel with you - it´s so hard to lose a part of the family - for me are our pets a part of the family .. I don´t have words - only humans do things like that

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