by Aaron & Valerie Brown
Dear friends,
I'm writing you this letter with a very heavy heart. Last night our hearts were crushed as or little Jack Russell Ireland jumped on a tree and went over our fence after a squirrel. Before I could get to her, she was hit by a train right before my eyes. Words can not express nor can adequately articulate the pain that I relive every time I close my eyes. What I would do for three more seconds.
As many of you probably feel for your dogs, our Ireland was our baby. We first brought her home to see what kind of parents we would be and she quickly won our hearts. For two and a half years she literally ruled our world. We went without so much so that she could have anything she wanted or needed. When she was eight months old we found out that she had a food allergy and had to eat a special prescription diet of duck and potato. For two college students this cost was quite large but I must say this is the first time I even thought of how much it cost, though I often would joke that she eat better than we did. She was not supposed to have bones either but much to the dismay of my wife I continued to bring them home any way. They were often much larger than she was but that never stopped her. Her eyes would light up and she wouldn't stop until it was gone. My wife would joke "She's Daddy's little girl and she gets what ever she wants." At times when school or work got too much and I could not take her to the park, I would hide treats around the house so she could spend hours and often days hunting for them. I remember her tail wagging so fast you would think it would fly off her body until she found each and every one. My wife would spend hours grooming her and putting Neosporin on all her cuts that she would receive when I took her hiking, running, or to the park.
My wife and I want you all to know that we were very consensus JRT owners. We provided for all her needs and made sure she was without wants. On Sundays we went to flyball so that she would have a job and something to focus on, during the week I went running with her, and took her to the off leash dog park on Fridays and Saturdays. We would go at 4:30 am so she would have the whole park to herself. She was known for getting into fights during the day so I would take early enough so she could run for two hours before anyone would arrive. Besides, all she wanted to do was run and the dogs she would fight were only the ones who would try to catch her. I'll miss those mornings together. Today's Saturday and it was strange not having her wake me up to go. Two weeks ago we even moved into a smaller place so that she could have a larger yard and now this yard seems so empty with out her. It is full of fruit trees, which attract an abundance of animals she would chase. When we first arrived there were squirrels that inhabited the property that had since moved to the neighbor's yard due to her insistence. How quickly they return. Responsible
Dear Ireland,
Mommy and Daddy miss you terribly. Thank you so very much for our time together. You have taught us the true meaning of unconditional love and have brought us so many happy memories. We will always remember you and the smiles you so lovingly provided. Our only comfort is knowing you died doing what you loved most...hunting. Daddy is so sorry he couldn't get to you in time.
The squirrels are out today Ireland.
With all our love,
Aaron and Valerie Brown
(Mommy & Daddy)
Incahoots "Ireland"-Hit by a train 11/6/98. Ireland will always have our hearts and will be deeply missed by all that love her. Happy hunting Ireland. Thank you Donna Sinderud for giving us Ireland and thank you for your continued support over the years.