In 2000, my wife Carolyn was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. And in 2001, our beloved Labrador, Sam, had to sleep on the cold floor of a veterinarian’s room. This was a tragic end to a great friend. After he left us, we only had five minutes with him.
Seeing that we were very upset, the vet informed us about a family who were trying to rehome Jake, a 1-year-old golden retriever. We immediately went to see them. As soon as we sat down, Jake came and sat in front of me, seeming to know what was about to happen. We bonded, I thought. We thought he loved his new family and we took him home. While it was true that Jake truly loved us, it was also true that Jake loved everyone, and in turn everyone loved him.
He also loved going outside. Being a very large dog, I quickly realized that he had a lot of energy. In his early years with us, he could run like the wind in open spaces. He lived in Torquay and loved the coastal path and beaches, especially when he had the chance to swim. And he had a lot of them. Our son William, like Jake, also loved wild camping on Dartmoor. I loved rolling around in it, especially when there was mud or worse. Everywhere Jake went, everyone was thrilled when he approached to make more of a fuss. He had a big smile on his face and his bushy tail was wagging about 19 to 12 times.
Alan Paling and Jake. Photo: Courtesy of Alan Paling
Throughout Carolyn’s long illness, Jake was a constant companion and friend, providing love during the worst times of our lives. When Carolyn passed away in 2005 and William went off to college, Jake was still with me, reminding me that life must go on. Without him, there would have been an even bigger void in my life. Even though the house may have felt terribly empty and cold, it still felt like home when they returned, especially when they had to leave Jake alone. But Jake always came with me. Because I can always go for a walk somewhere.
In 2014, we had to say goodbye because his back leg gave out. Jake was put to sleep by the vet in our garden and is currently lying there. So Jake is still with us. When I look up into the garden, I can always feel him with me in the fresh air. And he still finds and throws toys that we didn’t bury. I know that bringing them back to me is the joy of his life and the joy of my life. But now I have to take it for myself… So, Jake, thank you for being a loyal friend. Thank you all for your love and for continuing on with your life. I was very lonely.
