Jazmine 4/11/1999 - 4/9/2010

April 11th 1999 - April 9th 2010

It was almost exactly 11 yrs ago that I told my mom I wanted a beagle, I got my love for animals from my mother so being a fellow animal lover she didn't even question me. She just gave me a look like "as long as you know what your getting yourself into". On my way to get the beagle a man called me and told me he had only 1 last puppy left, but these puppies weren't beagles, they were GREAT DANES!! I had always been interested in the breed, always amazed by their beauty, their size and most of all their personalities. I had only met a few but everyone I met seemed so wise, so confident, careful, sweet and loving. They really were gentle giants. SO I turned around and went the opposite direction and made a very spontaneous decision and went to go look at this puppy. When I got there he took me out to his backyard and that was the first time I laid my eyes on what would be my best friend. She came running to me, like she was waiting for me! She fell 4 or 5 times along the way, tripping over her ENORMOUS ears and her HUGE feet! So clumsy, careless, ditsy, not at all what I remembered of the breed. She threw herself into my arms and from then on I never let go, even when she didn't fit which was very soon after. I brought her home and immediately my mom said, this is NO beagle. What is this?? How old is this?? Why is it so BIG?? I told her it was a big beagle, it wasn't until later that I decided I better tell her I just bought a small horse. Jazmine grew and she grew. Come to think of it, I don't know if she ever stopped last time I weighed her she was about 160 lbs. And one thing about BIG dogs is when they go through the chewing stage they don't chew on a shoe or something small like that. She ate entire dining room tables, chairs, doors, basket balls, logs, couches, rugs, beds etc. etc. etc. I actually drove her to the dog pound TWICE when she was younger, telling her the whole way there that I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't deal with all the mess she makes and things she had ruined. I went with full intentions of really dropping her off! But I would pull up and she would lay her head on my lap and look at me with those amazing, big, beautiful brown eyes and I know she was saying sorry. I know she understood me when I talked to her and I understood her. So we would go home and my mom would just laugh. This went on for years, her doing something naughty, me yelling and screaming, her looking at me and apologizing, me melting into HER ARMS because she was better off holding me instead of me holding her. She was with me through the most important years of my life. She was there when I was dating, then had boyfriends, through marriage, divorce, marriage. Through EVERYTHING! Jr. high, high school. She saw and did it all with me. She was with me when I got my drivers license and my first car and then she was with me when I got in my 1 and only car accident and totalled my first car!!! I remember jumping out of the car, a little dazed and not knowing exactly what happened and all I could think about was where Jazmine was!? I yelled for her and ran around the accident until I found her. She had jumped out of one of the broken windows and I could tell she was in a panic looking for me too! She traveled all over with my family and I. She probably saw more of this world than a lot of other dogs. She was so patient with me and all the crazy things I would do with her! Always putting total trust in me, but still looking at me with that questioning look as if to say... Are you sure? I brought home birds, reptiles, cats, dogs and she was so kind every life, big or small. I remember having a ton of Chicky's when I was younger and walking into the garage where we were keeping them in a HUGE cage. I saw her in the cage and went running over thinking she had either eaten them all or smashed them, she loved stepping on bugs and little things so I thought she had stomped them all. Only to find her laying down with every single little chick cuddled into her belly, not one was hurt! They were so happy there all warm and smashed up against her and she was happy to have them. And I remember when I brought Jameson home, showing her my baby and I know she understood. She stuck her muzzle into him and was so excited. She did that with everyone of the babies I brought home and she cared for them and protected them like they were her own. I never worried about the kids if Jazmine was with them, knowing that she wouldn't let anyone step within 15 feet of them unless they made it by her first. She was so loyal to us all, so respectful. Its hard for me now to drive up to my house and not see her. Every time, no matter what she would get up out of her bed and stand there to greet us, EVERY TIME! Even in these last days when I know it would hurt her so much to stand, and still there she was as soon as she heard us driving down the road. I would tell her, its ok and she doesn't have to do that anymore, I knew it was hard for her but she didn't care. She would just put her big head in my hand and say hello. I hate driving up and not having her here to greet me anymore. I hate not having my "nanny" to watch over my kids. I hate when I go to bed knowing she isn't downstairs guarding our house anymore. I don't feel as safe and secure as I did when she was here. One of my favorite memories is when I was home alone and a man came to our door, he was handing out flyer's. I had just moved into our house and I walked around the corner and I could see him through our door (our front door is almost all glass windows) I really didn't want to open the door to him. When all of a sudden Jazmine came RUNNING around the corner and JUMPED up on the door and barked her EXTREMELY LOUD bark and the guy jumped SO HIGH and through his flyer's all over my porch and went running holding his BUTT!! I think she literally scared the crap out of this poor man!!! She loved scaring people for some reason, I think she liked knowing that everyone was amazed by her size and how "ferocious" she looked. She was an amazing dog, the perfect dog, but she was more than just a dog to us. She was a big part of our family. Really BIG. She was my best friend, she chose me to be her mom and I was so proud of her. She was put here just for me and my family, she loved us so much and we loved her. She was so loyal, trustworthy, giving, and protective of us. She will be greatly missed by so many. I have felt such a tremendous amount of grief since she has been gone, she left a huge void in my heart and the house seems so empty now, I find myself constantly wondering what is missing and then I realize there isnt a horse in my house. But I am comforted in knowing that she is in a better place now. I know one day I will see her again and it will be just like the first time I saw her. She will run to me, with those big long legs and throw herself at me like she only weighs 10 lbs. and bury her head into my arms. I know she is comfortable now and can rest and run like she used to. She deserves to be happy and I know she is. It is always hard to say goodbye to someone you love so much, but I cant wait to say hello again. I want to say thank you to all the wonderful friends and family too that have come to say goodbye and sent all the wonderful gifts and for thinking of us! I know she knew she was loved by many and I know she will still be watching over all of us and will always love and appreciate it. Thank you for all for being there for me when the time came to say goodbye and thank you for caring for her so much.

I love you Jazmine! Thank you for loving me so much and for always being there for me. I will miss you, may you rest in peace now.