My Zak Man

 

 

Today was my last day with My Zak Man. Such a hard day yet such wonderful memories. 13 years ago Zak and his sister Jessie came into our lives. Jason and I happened to be staying at my buddies place up in Fort Saint John.  One day she came home with these two beautiful border collie/Australian sheep dogs (our best guess). At the time Marcy was running a food catering business in camps out on the pipeline. When she went to go shut down the camp Zak & Jessie were there with no one to take them home. I guess they had been spotted up a creek bed by one of the fellows in camp. Being far from civilization they ended up being camp mascots. However, when it was time to shut it down no one was willing to take them home. So Marcy, being a dog lover, decided to pack them in her truck and take them to the SPCA where she hoped they'd find a home. En route, I guess they puked all over the vehicle and on top of it Marcy found out that the SPCA was closed. So home they came for the night and the rest is history! It really didn't take Jason and I even 24 hours to decided to call them our own. We didn't know what we were truly taking on which was likely a good thing as they turned out to be quite wild. Obviously they had learned to fend for themselves. Over the years they never brought home domestic animals but we did get all sorts of birds, squirrels, and even a coyote pup on our doorstep. The other thing they loved to do on us was run! O and run they would. I remember trying to break them of the habit. We took them to trainers who just told us we'd have to separate as there was no hope....which we refused to do. We also bought an incredibly long light weight rope and would get them to run from one of us to the next in mom's top field to teach them to come when called. Ya that kinda worked. Basically, what we learned was the more time we spent with them the better they listened and the more dedicated they became to us. Basic but true. Anyhow, they came everywhere with us from road trips to Manitoba to moving downtown Red Deer. I remember many a day running after these guys and searching for them street by street. They always came back or of course good ol' SPCA would find them for us for a fee! They both loved to run. One time we took them out past Rocky Mountain House to stretch their legs as we were living right in the city and they knowingly took off on us. After several hours of awaiting their return we had to leave as night had come and Jason had to go to work the next day. I drove all the way back out the next morning with a feeling of angst of whether I would find them. They were in the exact spot we left them wagging their tails as I drove up. 

They also were both incredibly fit. Jessie was the runner. One time we actually clocked Jessie running beside the truck (happily) at 70km an hour. Zak on the other hand was the jumper. We had a five foot high fence surrounding the place in Red Deer. We couldn't figure out how Zak would get out. There were no holes under the fence or loose boards. Then one day a neighbour came over and informed up he had to lift Zak off the fence earlier that day as he had tried to jump and got both front legs caught in the slats. He was truly unreal. Zak also loved to run. Actually they both did specifically when it thundered or there was a gun shot. It was obvious to us that prior to joining our family they weren't treated the best. If we went to cut wood or throw a stick they'd run in fear. So when there was a loud bang they basically ran until they wore themselves out. Just last year Zak took off in a thunderstorm and was located down in the industrial area of town a good 25km from moms place. Thank goodness for dog tags.  Anyhow, Jessie has always appeared to age better then Zak. He's always looked like an older boy even when he was in good health. However, in the last couple months he really took a down turn. We've known this day would come but its always a hard one to deal with no matter how much you think you mentally prepare yourself. It seems that he has lymph cancer and it really took over in the last couple of weeks. We are no longer doing him a favour by keeping him with us. As much as my heart aches with the thought that we will be euthanizing him tomorrow the truth is he really is struggling. Thank goodness we have that option with our lovable pets. It would be awful to see him struggle anymore. I think the thing that hurts the most though is that for the first time in 14 years Zak & Jessie will no longer be together. It makes me want to puke to be honest. She's always groomed him and cared for him. He's always been there for her. But like Mom says no one can get out of this life alive. Its his time. He's had a wonderful life and he has given us all so much joy. I will miss him.

What else can I say but goodbye my dear boy.

I love you so very much.