Jilly, The Good Kid
R. L. Cherry
"Author of the Morg Mahoney mysteries”
also
Compassionate Dog Lover
This is one of his memories as his tribute to Jilly, his furry friend
When I first met our Aussie, Jilly, she looked like a loser. It was at an animal shelter in Woodland, CA., where she was “up for adoption.” She had a chip, but the jerk she was registered to said, “I gave her away a long time ago. I don’t care what you do to her.” Unfortunately for her, she also had kennel cough and was isolated, where no one would see her. If someone had, she was not putting her best foot (or paw) forward. Due to fleas, she had gnawed all the fur off of her butt and, to coin a term, had a hang-dog (pardon the pun) appearance. But, thank God, I saw through that. My wife, Kelly, asked me if I really wanted her. All I said was, “Yes.” I never regretted it. She was 4 when we got her and died at 13. I still miss her and have not been able to get another dog after almost 2 years.
After she recovered from kennel cough, Jilly (short for Jillaroo, a female ranch hand in Australia) became the best dog in the world. Sorry other dog owners, it’s the simple truth and I’m totally objective. I called her “the good kid” for the simple reason that she was. She loved going on walks, totally concentrating on walking and almost ignoring other dogs and people along the trail. If another dog snapped at her, she seemed confused, as if wondering what the other canine’s problem was instead of attacking back. While she was almost too friendly to people, she didn’t jump on them or wet in excitement, just rubbed her but against them. Leaving a little grey and white hair was the only damage she did. When I did my morning crossword puzzle, she would sit by my chair awaiting a behind-the-ear- rub, but never insisting. She did love food and would gobble down her chow as soon as it was given to her. She wasn’t picky.
Unless I was taking her on her walk on the trail, Jilly preferred being in the house . If you left her outside, she would come on the deck and lie near the glass door. We could leave her in the house alone for 10 hours without any problem, either “accidents” or destroying anything. Well, except for her toys. She loved them, but they had rather short life spans. Ones like “Super Chicken” who had a rubber band propulsion through the air and “Duck, Duck” who had a duck call squeaker had many incarnations over the years, thanks to the pet stores. If you tossed them, she would fetch them, but never easily relinquish them to you. They were hers. And she would gut them to prove it. The only one who survived her was “Snow Dude,” the strangest, ugliest toy she ever had. With long, thin arms and legs, I was sure he was not long for this world and I never saw a replacement available in any store. She often carried him around and, although gnawed on his hat at times, never pulled him apart or dug out his squeakers. I guess she loved that misshapen toy. After we had to put her to sleep due to cancer and other problems, I destroyed Snow Dude rather than give him away. He would always be hers and only hers.
Be sure to visit Ron L. Cherry’s web site at: www.rlcherry.com
for more of his talented and well respected penmanship
We too are lovers of dogs and know the terrible loss of your best friend.
Please let another sweet friend into your life if you should lose yours. So many are abandoned, abused or simply tossed away as our Maggie Anne was at eight weeks of age. They all need a family of their own. Thank you Ron for sharing the story of Jilly and the photographs so we could share her with the world!
Stop by and visit our web site and check out our Maggie as she has inspired a book with a collection of short stories and dog treat recipes. Scheduled book launch is October 31, 2015.
Maggie’s Kitchen Tails:
Dog Treat Recipes and Puppy Tales to Love
MaggieTails1031@gmail.com
Be sure to pre-order your copy today!
Authors:
Douglas E. and Rosemary “Mamie” Adkins
and
Martha Char Love
