Getting Over Jasper
Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 10:30 pm
It has occurred to me that I have never really come to terms with the death of my first (And probably my last) foster dog Jasper. Jasper was a Chihuahua/Pomeranian mix found by a roommate of mine. No tags, no chip, and about 4 years old. NO manners whatsoever. It took me almost 7 months of work to make him a normal dog again. I will say this now: I was NEVER a dog person. And I became incredibly close to this 9lb dog. I found a home in February with a single mom and her 4 kids. They had decided on a permanent dog after fostering and re-homing 4. We decided on a test run for a week to see how he did with the kids. The minute he walked out that door I knew that I may never see that fuzz butt again.
The day before we were to make the final decision on them keeping him, I was coming into my apartment and got a call on my cell phone. It was the police department. He had pulled Jasper's collar off his body on the highway 2 miles from their house. The 22 year old son who was home that day with a bicycle injury didn't watch the door and Jasper bolted in a beeline for Portland. I just dropped the phone and started screaming. I just didn't know what to do with myself. My mother went and got the collar and scooped up Jasper off the side of the highway and brought him to her house to bury. I couldn't look at him...I couldn't look at him because in my mind I failed him. The mother kicked the 22 year old out of the house that night...but it just wasn't enough.
I work in a pet shop for my job. One would say that would be great; I get to talk about animals all day.
It isn't when you are grieving an animal.
It's been 10 months. Will I ever get over this pain? Can I stop bursting into tears when I see dogs like him?
The day before we were to make the final decision on them keeping him, I was coming into my apartment and got a call on my cell phone. It was the police department. He had pulled Jasper's collar off his body on the highway 2 miles from their house. The 22 year old son who was home that day with a bicycle injury didn't watch the door and Jasper bolted in a beeline for Portland. I just dropped the phone and started screaming. I just didn't know what to do with myself. My mother went and got the collar and scooped up Jasper off the side of the highway and brought him to her house to bury. I couldn't look at him...I couldn't look at him because in my mind I failed him. The mother kicked the 22 year old out of the house that night...but it just wasn't enough.
I work in a pet shop for my job. One would say that would be great; I get to talk about animals all day.
It isn't when you are grieving an animal.
It's been 10 months. Will I ever get over this pain? Can I stop bursting into tears when I see dogs like him?