Good-bye Dear Smackity-Smack!

On Thursday, December 4th, just one day after Ethan's collar bone accident my parents had to make another difficult decision regarding a much beloved pet/friend. Their dog/my dog (he was mine also) Blackjack a.k.a Smacksmack or Smackitysmack was unable to get up when my Father got home from work that day. He called my mother and they took him to the vet. They found that his organs were failing. They made the hard decision to put him down. They were with him the entire time, which eases my mind.

Blackjack was no ordinary dog. I truly think there is no other dog like him. He was found almost 13 years ago by my Dad and his friend Rich. There were 2 dogs. Rich took one and my Dad took Blackjack home. Blackjack has always been the most gentle dog. You could fall and land right on him and he would just lay there (Ethan did it just once I believe). He never would bark and had a favorite toy that was not a toy at all. Blackjack was very mellow, but when I would take out an old teacher apple made out of cloth and stuffing he would go crazy. He chased and chewed on that apple like it was the best thing in the world. Blackjack was very gentle to other animals as well. He loved the cats and even for a short period of time made friends with a stray dog that we named his "little buddy."

Some of Blackjack's favorites were food. His two favorites were a box of cheez-its and his sausage biscuit that my Mom would bring home for him, yes for him, every Sunday morning after church. He hated water and would never go near the pool. This was thanks to Roulette.

One memory that I keep thinking about was when my brother took photos of him for either my Father's birthday or Father's Day years ago. Scott dressed Blackjack up in a white t-shirt and sunglasses and posed him on a couch with a golf club. Blackjack just went with the flow and the pictures to this day are on my father's dresser.

I will miss you Blackjack. Who will I ask were the lady is? or Where's Poppy? You were a great dog, companion, and friend. Thank you for being such a wonderful beloved dog. I will miss seeing your smiling face and wagging tail every Thursday afternoon at my parents'. Good-bye Blackjack. You made it almost to your 13th birthday. You are the best! Love ya!