Pictures Of Jasmine

Okay, these might come out large. I don't have the proper program installed on my computer to edit pictures so I apologize if they're huge.

This first one is Jasmine at 7 months. Look at that expression!


This one was taken last year. I think it's self explanatory, no? LOL (There's the brown butt patch I mentioned yesterday.)


Close-up. Her favorite thing to do was get back in bed in the morning while I was getting ready and go into MY spot and put her head on MY pillow.


This one was taken in 2000 when my roommate at the time had cats. We kept them separated during the day. This was taken when we were going to bed. Tiger (the cat) didnt' want to move out of our way!


Also taken in 2000.


Jasmine and Bailey, last year...


I'll stop there for now. I have more I can show you later if you want.

Happy Birthday Jasmine

Today is Jasmine's 10th birthday. Had I known last year that it was to be her last, I would have baked her a doggie cake or cookie. I remember last year something was going on and I was hardly home that day. I barely got to wish her a happy bday. I thought I'd have a few more atleast. I remember I made her a doggie cookie for her 1st bday. I know I have pics so I'll have to find them. She LOVED it.
I remember when I got Jasmine, on Labor Day weekend in 1995. I posted in my other thread what a handful she was! (I have to fish through boxes of pictures but I will find her puppy pictures and post them.) But she was also a quick learner and very devoted, even if she pretended like she wasn't half the time. We trained hard during her first year, and started obedience competitions. We were truly a team. I put my blood, sweat and tears into her, and even though we never got a title, I wound up with a well-trained dog, especially off-leash. She helped me to train Bailey off-leash too so it was a lot easier...I didn't put as much training into him.
One of the best things Jasmine learned at an early age was to catch a frisbee. She loved the Soft Bite pink/green one. She wouldn't touch the plastic ones. She would run across an open field and catch that thing every time (unless I did a bad throw). She was funny though, she preferred not to let all four of her legs leave the ground....just the front ones. If she did, the back ones only came up a little. She was a master at it...catching and bringing it back to me...and I didn't even really train her. She just got it. If for some reason, she didn't see where it went, I would point to it and say "get the frisbee" and she would! She understood.
Bailey can catch it but he's 50/50 on bringing it back. He's just not as apt as she was...at most things...LOL. He's very clumsy and dopey but he's a lovebug. It hurt a little last week when I was playing frisbee with him...it's just not quite the same, ya know?? But I appreciate whatever he can do.

We also had this game that I called "spider". If she had a toy, or if she was just laying there, I would slowly crawl towards her...my hand crawling like a spider. She would watch me get closer and then start to growl (play growl). As I got closer she would get louder and look away. Then glance back, then growl. She hated her feet being touched so I would go for her feet. She would let out a HUGE play growl and grab my hand ever so gently...never did she bite by accident. Then I would pounce on her and she would run away and grab another toy. This was our game. We played it often. Bailey doesn't really play it...I tried the other day but no real response. I miss it so very much. It was OUR game.

Happy Birthday, my Love. You were the best girlfriend I could have asked for in the past 9 1/2 years. I will miss kissing your soft ears and your muzzle (she gave human kisses aside from doggie ones).

Interesting Info

I don't know if this is the right area of the forum to put this in, but this seems to be the most visited and I wanted to share this website that someone shared with me today. It really made me think and I know that I am definitely changing Bailey's food. I have been thinking of it anyway because he has been plagued with dry skin issues for years (and believe me I've tried SOOOO many supplements). But this site confirms my decision. I have always fed Eukanuba and it didn't rank the worst according to this site, but it definitely is lacking stuff.
And also, I think anyone on this board who is dealing with an ill dog would like to read this.
Supplements & Diet

Area Support Groups?

I've been searching far and wide on the internet for any sort of group session I could attend here in the Boston area...but can't find any. I've searched so many sites on the net, plus I just went and searched the other areas of this site. The only thing I've ever found was individual counselors. I would love a support group though....sorta like AA.
Does anyone know of any groups in the Boston area or a place where I could look one up? I live just north of Boston.
Thanks.

Audrey

PS. Just to let everyone know...I'm not trying to replace you guys or imply I'm not being helped here. OMG I don't know how I would have made it through the past week without this place! I was just thinking it would be nice to see people and maybe even make some new dog parent friends. Bailey seems like he could use a dog friend.

My Jazzygirl

Hello everyone. My name is Audrey and I'm new here.
It's taken a lot of courage to post here...but I feel so lost that I need somewhere to turn. I've read some posts here and everyone seems so supportive.
I lost my German Shorthaired Pointer, Jasmine, on Monday night. She was going to be 10 yrs old next month. I can't believe it's only 4 days...it seems like an eternity ago...and eternity of hell. She died suddenly and unexpectedly, with no previous signs of anything wrong.
One minute she was fine, the next she was not. She was breathing funny and just didnt' look right. I think we all as pet-owner know when our children aren't feeling well. Not sure what was going on, I tried to confort her. She allowed me to, and then tried to go off in the corner. Then she started pacing the house and within minutes, starting losing her balance. It was then I knew I had to rush her to emergency vet. In less than 5 min we were carrying her into the car. I have another pointer, a male, Bailey, who is going to be 8 yrs old. I took him with us because he was so confused and knew something was wrong. Luckily I have a male roommate so he was able to carry Jasmine for me. The ride to the vet was maybe 12 minutes. As we pulled up, she lost consciousness. We grabbed her and ran into the hospital. They immediately took her and whisked her into the ER. The last image I have is her head falling to the side in the vet tech's arms. I had no idea she had just stopped breathing. The next thing I knew, they were telling me they had the crash cart out and were trying to start her heart again. They asked me how far I wanted them to go. Need I say I was in complete shock!!?? How can I tell them to crack her chest open to try to get her heart beating again, when no one knows what's wrong??? So I held off on the decision.
About 10 min later, the vet came out. From the look on her face, I knew. She told me that they had a breathing tube in her, and they had been trying to start her heart, but couldn't get a steady beat. She advised me that given her experiece, and Jasmine's symptoms, she strongly believed that she had a hidden tumor that had broken free and caused organ failure and possibly even a blood clot. She said that cracking her open really wouldn't do anything. So I had to give her permission to stop working on Jasmine. It was at that moment that my world shattered.
The vet came back in shortly after and told me she took the liberty of taking a fluid sample from Jasmine's abdominal area. There was free blood....a confirmation that she had organ failure. The reason she lost her balance back at the house was because her blood pressure was crashing. I thanked her for doing all she could. I called my boyfriend and he immediately drove up to the hospital. There was no time to call him before. My roommate had Bailey in the waiting area and he was whining and crying, very confused.
When I was ready, they brought her out. It was the hardest thing I think I've ever had to do. She looked like she was sleeping....yet in some respects it wasn't her. I could tell her spirit was gone. We all spent time with her, though I opted to keep Bailey out of the room. I felt it would upset him to see her.
So there's my story......my baby girl is gone. I never got a chance to say goodbye to her when she was still alive.
The vet told me that it was a blessing in disguise. Many pet owners who find out their pets have cancer have to make hard decisions....and Jasmine spared me of that. I'm trying to be grateful but it's so hard. I'm also trying to be grateful that I was home when it happened. I don't think I could have forgiven myself if it happened while I was at work.
The past 4 days have been a nightmare. I took the week off from work. I'm a teacher and I just couldn't stand the thought of trying to put on a happy face for my students. I cant' even imagine going back on Monday, to tell you the truth. I had to call the crematory on Tues to arrange for them to pick her up. I got the paperwork yesterday and sent it back to them today....approving the cremation and picking out an urn. Yesterday I didn't cry much...I thought I was doing better....today I'm in a black hole. Im' trying to be strong for Bailey...he's such a baby as it is. He's never been without Jasmine. I left him alone today for the first time for a couple of hours. He seemed to do okay. I'm worried about him though. I know he's picking up on my sadness. I cried for hours in bed today. I feel like I will never get out of it.
I got Jasmine right after I got out of college. I did have a childhood dog and I mourned her passing while I was in college...but Jasmine was "my" dog. We've been through so much together. She was my girl, my girlfriend, my baby, my love. I can't see getting on without her. I can't believe she left me and Bailey. All around the house, I have 2 of everything...and now only one dog. I feel sick all the time. I can barely eat. When I do, I feel even worse. I went from not sleeping, to sleeping too much. It's my hope that coming here will help. I wish I could find group support in my area...north of Boston. Either that, or I think I might need some counseling.
Thanks in advance for listening everyone.