All good things must come to an end
And it’s not fair.
This is an understatement
because my life with Tiger Jack Burke wasn’t “a good thing” it was extraordinary.
He first entered the race
into my life on May 24, 2012. But how did he pass me so quickly in the
continuum of age?
Tiger Jack had been in
decline for a while but I’ve always maintained that I would let him leave on
his own terms. The barometer I used to measure this was if he chattered his
teeth when I asked him if he wanted to go for a walk. This is something
Greyhounds do when they are excited. He was still chattering yesterday and as
Needa ran around in the new fallen snow, Tiger Jack romped along with her. When
running, greyhounds spend 75% of their time in the air; they actually fly.
I prayed that when Jack
was ready to leave he would let me know. Last night we were up several times and
he seemed more nervous than usual. I’ve been sleeping on the couch to be with
him since I moved into my house in August, so he was rarely more than 5 feet
from me.
He had full breakfast
with Needa and we all went to doze for a while to let their food digest. But then
he had his stroke, and immediately I knew it was time.
The stroke subsided after
a few long, terrible minutes and he had a few smaller episodes throughout the
morning. Getting a Vet to come to the house for euthanasia in the UP isn’t like
at home. The visiting Vet was booked. The Newberry Vet was booked and was going
on vacation after today.
I sat with Jack, trying
to decide what to do. I didn’t want to
have to drive him to Sault Ste. Marie and have him put down in an office
setting. I wanted him to continually see my face and hear my voice in what
little time I knew we had left. A drive to the Soo was out of the question and
I sat alone and dejected.
Then the phone rang. It
was the traveling Vet. She said she could make it to Newberry in a couple
hours.
For the next three hours
Jack was in a state of relaxation. I
rubbed his head, scratched his ears and reflected upon the many scars on his
body that came as a result of wipeouts on the track or scraps in the kennel. But
they had healed long ago and by the time he got to me, he was a pistol. A broken toe on his front left foot ended his
racing career and it is what ultimately steered him to me. It healed long ago and
I held that paw for three hours.
Most greyhounds don’t
race more than a year or two and a miniscule amount become champions. This is
why adoption is so important for these 45 mile an hour couch potatoes.
For the remainder of the
morning I laid on the floor with him, soothing, comforting and telling him how
much I loved him and that everything was going to be alright. Even though he had a hearty breakfast, I hand
fed him his favorite treat (chicken breast) until he could eat no more.
If I moved to wipe my
eyes, he kept reaching for me; grabbing my arm and then resting his head on it;
further proof that he knew it was time. I caressed and comforted him. This
continued until the Vet arrived. Needa
was with us looking on at the end. His eyes get heavy after the injection. With
a relaxed grip on his paw, I rubbed his back as the air left his lungs and just
like that, the dread evaporated.
I’ve always said of this
big, beautiful brown eyed boy that despite his age (14) he could play a
greyhound half his age in a movie. He was a bad ass and I lovingly referred to
him as Clint Eastwood his final months. My only regret with Tiger Jack Burke is
that we could not have spent more time together here on earth. The truth be
told, I was missing him long before today in what I call “the unfair heartbreaking
anticipation of the inevitable.”
I conservatively estimate
that Jack and I walked just over 8000 miles together from May of 2012 until yesterday,
December 28, 2021.
That is the distance from New York to Los Angeles and back--- and then to Los
Angeles again.
Or, just short of 30
trips from Royal Oak to Mackinac City.
Or from Detroit, MI to
London, England and back. Ok, no more
comparisons, I know you get the picture.
A good friend, who has
known of his condition sent early condolences, knowing it was going to be
strange and sad for me in these days to come.
It already is.
I promised Jack I’d see
him again in heaven, but hopefully not for a while.
From his broken toe to my
broken heart, I will continue to love him. His passing has left a raw gaping hole
in my heart.
Tonight, I keep expecting
him to wake up from his nap, come to my desk, put his head in my lap and snub
me when I try to kiss him.
My house is one box of
Kleenex lighter this evening.
He took more out of life
than it took out of him.
He was a Champion of the Heart.