Vale Beautiful Jess

[Simply Grand]

Today we said a very sad goodbye to a beautiful long term shelter dog.

Jess was a very striking two year old Rottweiler. She ended up in the shelter with both her mother and her two week old baby daughter due to some sort of family conflict and the people never came back for them. Jess did a brilliant job, presumably as a first time mum, of raising her little singleton baby, producing a happy, healthy, well adjusted puppy who is thriving in her new home at four and a half months old now.

Jess was fiercely protective of her baby and was a formidable sight when warning people she didn't trust not to come near, but once she trusted you she trusted you completely with both herself and her puppy. Once her puppy had gone and Jess had all the attention back on her, she would welcome her trusted friends by rolling on her back and wriggling around asking for tummy rubs. She fancied herself a lap dog if you sat down and would sprawl her 32kg self across you :)

Unfortunately it was quite clear that Jess had not been well socialised. We wonder if she left the back yard before she found herself in a shelter as a new mum. If she had, it probably wasn't often. She was wary of everything and didn't know what to do with herself around strangers or other dogs. Sadly, Jess's instincts seemed to tell her that if she was really worried she should go on the offensive, and however much you love them, a Rottweiler on the offensive is indeed a scary prospect.

Jess and I worked very hard together to build her confidence, to have her realise that the world isn't too scary and that people and other dogs are nothing to worry about, and might actually be fun. She came so far using positive association conditioning and became a super star at the "look at that" game. I learned to read her and what I could ask of her and she learned to trust that I wouldn't put her in a position she couldn't handle.

It was almost enough. If she could learn to do that with me, just maybe we could get her to the point where she could responsibly be rehomed to a suitably experienced owner...

Then came the kicker. While working with her we noticed that Jess had a pretty wobbly walk and on thinking about it, there were a couple of times when she'd reacted as if she may have pain in her back end. This week x-rays confirmed she had bilateral hip displaysia with arthritic changes on both sides.

It broke my heart but I had to agree that as a shelter we could not ethically rehome a dog with a serious health issue who had also shown aggression towards people and other dogs (although she never did any harm).

So today Jessie went to the Bridge She had a beautiful day being spoilt rotten by her shelter family and was in my arms at the end.

I'm so sorry you didn't get the life you deserved Jess, but I hope we gave you many happy moments. You touched a lot of hearts and will not be forgotten.

I'm proud of you and I love you xxx

Edited to add a picture of my gorgeous girl.

Edited December 9, 2013 by Simply Grand

[persephone]

Sounds as if Jess's last few months made up for a lot. She would have thrived on the attention and being a mum ... you did a good and responsible thing.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

So very sad, we love them, work hard with them and will them to make it and then something rotten happens and we have to say goodbye. Sorry you had to go through this. At least she was loved by you and the other volunteers and passed on knowing that, surrounded by people who truly cared for her.

[littleduck]

Being the responsible one sucks sometimes, Jessie knew she was loved in the end... no matter what her start was xxx

[Guest Ams]

Simply Grand, I 've been in a similar situation all too often and I do feel your grief. Know you have made the right decision for this girl. You showed her there was a way forward, to trusting people and she showed she understood this. That life dealt her a bad deck of genetics is one kicker you just don't get to fix for some of them. All my love to you for taking the journey with her and knowing when it was time for her to travel the road to the rainbow bridge.

[stellnme]

What beautiful things you did - getting so far with rehabilitation and then when the time came, making the hard call and being there at the end for Jess.

Thank you for caring, Simply Grand, Jess went out with love.

[Simply Grand]

Thank you all for your kind words

It is always sad when we have to euthanase, thankfully we rarely do, but Jess was an extra special one. I would have absolutely loved to adopt her, not to save her but because she was a wonderful dog, but it just wasn't viable. I won't forget her though 

[MelissaS]

I'm so very sorry.

R.I.P Jessie and run happy and free at the bridge xxx

[cavNrott]

Thank the Gods that Jess had you to love and care for her. Your good work with her is a credit to you

Fly with the angels Jess, you are loved by your wonderful carer.