In Honor of My Most Precious Jerry Bean

Today’s post is in honor of my beloved pug, Jerry, who went to Heaven last Friday, May 14, 2010.

Many of you have already read what happened on Friday (you can read that post here:  Me~Just Being Real Today) so today is just a special post to show the world what a great puppy he was and how much I loved him.

He was in our family for 11 1/2 years.  I bought him when he was 11 weeks old.  I was 23 years old.  He was one of the best purchases I ever made and he brought so much joy and many smiles to my life and to those who knew him.

Yes.  Everybody loved Jerry.  Family.  Neighbors.  Friends.  He never met a stranger and he had no enemies.  And once you met him – you were hooked.

I originally bought him for my dad when my parents were on vacation, because he kept mentioning he wanted two pugs.  We already had Jesse and he had just turned a year old.  I never set out to buy a dog, but circumstances came about and that’s what I did.

I was on one of my normal visits to the pet store to look at the pugs.  I did this all the time.  As I was looking in the window that had about 4 pugs, I overheard the saleslady telling a guy that ‘You wouldn’t want this one.  His tummy is swollen.  He is the runt of the group and many times those are the sickest ones.”  She was talking about Jerry.  Immediately I asked if I could hold ‘Jerry’ (not that he was named then, but…) 

I got this tiny little pug, with a big black face and big brown eyes and I sat down on the bench.  I had him facing forward petting his back and then he leaned back and tilted his head all the way back against my chest and just looked at me.

That’s all it took.  I knew I had to have him.  But, I did the unthinkable and left without him and went home.  I thought about that puppy all night….the one the lady said nobody should get because he was the runt.  I woke up first thing and called hubby – who was actually non-Hubby Hubby at that time and told him I had to go up and get the puppy.  I couldn’t leave him there.  In Hubby’s version of the story I was crying, but he tends to exaggerate.

He came over and we went up to the mall and waited a half and hour for the store to open.  Once it did I went in and was so excited to see him there.  He was the only pug left.  I bought him and took him home so he could live the life of a king.  Well, as much as a dog can live like a king.

When my parents came home three days later, he was already attached to me and he was no longer for my dad – but he was now my puppy.  I named him Jerry.  We were inseparable from that day forward.

He was my shadow for 11 1/2 years. 

He was my buddy in the front seat of the car.  He walked 1.4 miles a day with me for 7 months of my pregnancy with Bella. He was always with me on walks alone or with the kids.  He went to the mountains with us. 

He went to family and friends’ houses with us.  He slept on the bed with me since the day I got him.  He laid at my feet when I was on the couch (after we got new furniture, he wasn’t allowed to be on the couch anymore – they shed a lot). He had a bed in every room of the house. 

He had a bed in the car.  If he got hot on walks, he got to sit in the stroller – and he loved it.  He had jars of treats in several rooms of the house.  He had baskets of toys in three rooms of the house.

Nothing was ever planned without taking him into consideration.  He was a constant companion – and that is the hardest part of him being gone.  I miss his presence.

Here are photos I wanted to share.  I found so many that I ended up making a video slide show that will be published in a separate post.  Going through 12 years of photos – I had a hard time keeping the amount of photos a small number!

Here’s to you, Jerry!

 

 

 

 







 










 










 





He always tilted his head when you’d talk to him!  It was adorable!











He looked like a sea turtle when he laid like this – which was often. 
Jerry had such a wonderful personality!

Saying goodbye was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do! But when I talked to him that morning and told him that I loved him and I was sorry he had to go, but he’d finally be able to be with his brothers again (who he loved so much) – he looked me right in the eyes like he always did. 
  

I do know one thing.  Jerry missed his brothers.  How could he not?  He was with them all the time for his entire life.  And then they were both gone within almost 7 months of each other.  So, I am pretty sure that the very moment when Jerry left this earth and he saw his brothers before him waiting to greet him in Heaven he ran like crazy to get to them.  The brothers were together again.  Finally!

I’ll see you soon Jerry Bean!  Keep my bed warm until we see each other again!  Your mama loves you!  You’re my boy!

remember to:
live.laugh.love.and.celebrate.life.

“My little dog - a heartbeat at my feet.”

Edith Wharton