Jessie was rescued as a stray at 6 months old. This is her last birthday she was able to celebrate. Over the 15 1/2 years she was unconditionally loved by our family, she taught our other dog how to be a dog, all of us about unconditional love, how fun anything and everything can be, laughter really is the best medicine (besides puppy love), and not chewing your food makes it taste even better!
At about 5 years of age, she was diagnosed with a mast cell tumor on the tip of her tail and beat cancer like a champion after having it amputated. She was like a new puppy and was also one of those special animals that could sense character, tragedy, and love in people.
About 8 months after this photo was taken, she broke her rear leg due to what we believed to be cancer as well. The same week of her surgery, her sister dog developed severe pneumonia and passed away. Jessie recovered well, but after what her body had been through and the loss of her sister, she passed away at home a month and a half later.
This photo is one of my favorites of her because it shows her love for life, (& her love for food) and the endless puppy energy she carried with her nearly 16 years...she partied so hard she couldn't even keep her hat on straight! She was my soul dog and my everything. Rest easy, Jessie Girl.