10/09/2025
We end the day with very sad news… our recent alumnus, Jake (formerly Drake), has passed away. His mom, Jackie, sent us this beautiful tribute…
“When you adopt a senior dog, you know there’s heartbreak on the horizon, but you never expect it so soon.
On April 23, a friend reached out to let me know about a GSP in a shelter in Raleigh, NC. Two days later, I was making the three-hour drive, telling myself not to make any hasty or emotional decisions, but also wondering if there was a record for the fastest foster fail (truth!). I choked up at the shelter when I said I was to pick up Drake, and I was full on tears when that gorgeous creature walked down the hall toward me.
His backstory doesn’t matter. I’m awful at ‘proper’ introductions to resident dogs. That afternoon, he became Jake, a 13-year-old with arthritis - gentle and awkward, with a mix of GSP goofiness and regality that we all know and love. He immediately fit in with us, cat included, and we made the necessary senior accommodations…because though it wasn’t yet official, he was already a part of our family.
I think he barked once, and I can’t even be sure because I was on the other side of the door. He slept through every night, quiet as a mouse, on his orthopedic bed, not a single accident in the house. He got senior zoomies and enjoyed treats from the neighbors. The meds helped some, but it was clear his hips were sore. We took shorter walks and though he was sometimes a little unsteady on his feet, his long, graceful legs pranced around the block every day.
I’m forever grateful to have a compassionate, gifted friend who responded to my early morning message with “I’ll be there in 15 minutes.” And so, on July 11, Jake and I took a walk together on the beach. He had the energy of a puppy while his breathing labored, and I struggled to hold it together. A short time later, the vet confirmed what I already knew, and I kissed his silver face and held him in my arms when his beautiful eyes closed.
I’m a sucker for a senior, and that makes me a glutton for the inevitable heartbreak that comes much too soon. I know he was safe, and happy, and unconditionally loved every single day of our 11 weeks together, so, despite the pain, I would do it again in a minute. Eight weeks have passed, my eyes still fill with tears, and my heart still very much hurts.
Queen Elizabeth II said, “Grief is the price we pay for love” and I couldn’t agree more.”
