My Name is Jessica
A biography, for Dalyce, with love
In my passport from the Vet, ugh!, is written: Rottweiler cross, born on the 24th of September 1996, name: Jessica. But they call me Jessie. Only when I pretend not to hear what they want me to do they call me Jessica, with the accentuation on the 'ca'. It works because I am a good-natured lady- sometimes they even have a point in putting a foot down, for instance when I want to cross a street without looking.
But lets start from the beginning.
First of all you need to know who 'they' are. There is Olaf, who came to pick me up at the SPCA when I was only a few weeks old. I was born into a family that didn't care about their pets. I cannot remember what happened to all my brothers and sisters, my mother and father. All I can remember is that I immediately fell in love with Olaf.
And then there is Olaf's mother. Lets call her mom, because I live with her now.
So, Olaf brought me home. The only thing mom knew, was, that I am black. Therefore she welcomed me with a green collar. Nice gesture, but what was she thinking- that Rottweiler puppies are giants? It was much too big.
I grew up in Olaf's home. He trained me and he loved me. By the way, I am bilingual, English and German. But, sometimes, as I said before, I don't listen. Therefore in my early days it came to an ugly and painful accident. I had jumped off the car and Olaf drove over my tail. Olaf had to rush me to the Vet's clinic. People say, my everything but typical Rottweiler tail was 'cute', but they hadn't seen the blood I had to sacrifice for it! Luckily there is enough tail left to wiggle waggle, especially when I try to catch fish, but that is another chapter.
At Olaf's home I met Teddy, a Chow cross. I think he was Olaf's best friend, and he became mine, too. Once Olaf had to go away for a day or two. He had asked friends to feed Teddy and me. Normally we had to sit in front of our bowl, than Olaf said something- I can't remember what it was- but it meant that we now were allowed to eat. Olaf's friends had forgotten that special command, and so we just sat there until they called mom and asked her what the magic words were.
After Teddy had died Olaf moved in with Lutz, a friend who lived next to mom's house. I had some difficulties with his dog Sasha. Therefore most of the time I was at mom's home, not because of her! But she had that beautiful warm- hearted German Sheppard dog. His name was Baron. Baron was allowed to rest in one of the armchairs. I decided to take advantage and jumped on the other one- and stared at Baron. I couldn't take my eyes off him. I stared, and stared, but he was not too comfortable with it and showed me his backside. But one day he gave up, and we rested in the armchairs face to face.
Baron was not healthy, but he played with me almost until his last day on earth. I was very gentle with him. Mom took us together for our daily walk. We waited in her car, while she was in the gym. We did everything together, emptied the dustbin, and what dogs do for fun.
But what I did alone, and still do, was to carry stuff into the house, motorcycle helmets, shopping, cell-phones etc. I need my duties.
Speaking of cell-phones: once mom came home without anything for me to carry. I must have made eyes like a dachshund, and she must have felt sorry for me, because she gave me her phone. I took it into the house, while she started to water the garden. Than the thing in my mouth started ringing. Typical mom! She must have forgotten where the cell was, because it took quite a while till she showed up in the kitchen and saved me from that funny thing. Am I not a brave girl? I just stood there and waited.
It was good to have Baron, because during that time Olaf had to travel quite often, and the day came when he left for overseas. It wasn't an easy time for the three of us. I ran outside all the time when a car like Olaf's drove by- and I stopped talking. I always had told Olaf long stories about what had happened while he was away. Later I saw how sad it was for mom, too, so I told her my stories.
Than the day came when Baron died. We were prepared. He had told us that it was time to go to heaven. But, still, when mom came home from work the next day, she found me lying with my head on Baron's grave. That brought us even more close together, and Baron is our guardian angel.
I was supposed to follow Olaf overseas. I longed for him, and, I am sure, he for me. But could I leave mom alone? Obviously Olaf had decided: No, we can't do it. So, I stayed on with mom, and she is very grateful for this.
I told earlier that I am a brave girl- not always. While Olaf lived still with us I had to undergo a hip operation. Bad, very bad! I felt so sorry for myself, and they did their best to make life easier for me. That was great, and I took advantage of that, quite a bit, to be honest. But then mom must have had enough. She said to me: You know, you are prim, very prim! Baron had to undergo two operations in a very short time. But look at him! Does he play it out? Hearing this from mom did hurt me. I decided that Olaf had spoilt me enough and started walking again on all my four paws. Here and than it still did hurt and I limped. Now mom was worried again and took me to the Vet. He prescribed an exercise that I love most: swimming! Every day we drove to the water. It was such a great time.
Now we live at the Atlantic Ocean. I don't swim so often anymore, but I like to play in the pools when it is low tide. I dig and try to catch fish, or, as mom says, I try to dig a tunnel to get to Olaf in the United States. By the way, I don't limp anymore and I'm turning eleven this year!
I am very careful at the beach and normally stay close to mom. But one day it happened: As soon as mom had stopped the car I jumped out of the car, without letting her undress me first (taking off my color), and rushed to the water. I even ignored the lady who usually spoils me with biscuits. What happened then I don't know. Mom told me later that she only had said 'Hi' to the kind lady and that when she turned around to follow me I was gone. She must have made a great fuss. Everybody helped her looking for me. Nothing. When I came back, they say it took me about twenty minutes to show up again, I found mom in tears. She looked at me as if I were a ghost. I thought: something the matter? Olaf's brother laughed and said: " At last Jessica has proved that she is a real dog, she just ran away! No, I did not! I don't do such things! I only had fooled around with a Jack Russel, because I love this funny breed to bits. We had played and forgotten the time.
I almost forgot to tell you about the Cheetah babies. Sometimes trainees from the Vet next door stayed in mom's house for a few months. One evening one of the girls came home with a box- and inside somebody made funny noises, like cats do. Mom and the trainee took the box very carefully into one room and closed the door- imagine, because of me, I heard them saying! A little bit later they decided to let me have a look. I couldn't believe my eyes: Four Cheetah babies- only two days old. Their mother had died. I instantly started licking them. After that I went to get my little tennis ball to play with the kids. It didn't work- they obviously were still too small, and they wanted milk. Unfortunately I couldn't help with that.
Before I end I have to tell you what mom did only recently. We went to buy our brötchens for breakfast. Usually I carry the bag, in the store I give it to mom, she fills it with two brötchens, takes it to the till, pays, and from there I take over again. But that certain day she gave the bag to me before she had paid! Unbelievable, don't you think so, too? I threw the bag back in front of her feet. Luckily she knew immediately what she had done, picked up the bag and paid for the brötchens before she gave them to me.
Yes, that's I, Jessie- cute, brave, honest and protective- as you can see from the last incident I have to tell.
I'm never on a leash when we walk through town. When we have to cross a street mom says softly: "wait", or rather: "warte". This German word is better for my ears. She stretches it in a special way. But one morning she just went across the street without saying anything. I stood in the middle of the road under the street lamps and did not move. I saw a car coming, mom still walked on, and I still didn't move, and then she must have felt that something was not right. She came back and hugged me. That's how we take care for each other.
These walks in the morning are so precious! Why? So many people look at me, and smile! Some of them might think: This dog made my day.

JESSICA died on the 4th of June 2009

Today, my dearest, dearest friend, you left me. You still wanted to do so much, especially going shopping. That's what we did this morning like always, but I could see you didn't feel well. I thought it would be better to turn back home, but you held on to your little shopping bag, and walked on - very, very slowly. And you just made it home. You were so weak, and I hope with all my heart that you didn't have to suffer too much.
Now you are in heaven and together with Baron again- and no pain anymore!
Jessie you gave me so much, and I will miss you every step of my way. There will be painful days ahead, but I have so many good and joyful things to remember. Life with you was precious, and I'm very grateful for that.

Thank you!
Mom