RIP Boligee Jade
Nancy Doniger
She was my best friend. In fact, in my opinion, she was the best dog in the world. Jade died a year ago this week. I’ll never stop missing her, but joyful memories have begun to replace the sadness.
Once we decided to adopt a greyhound, my extended family went to the former Shoreline Star race track in Bridgeport to select a dog from the Pups without Partners adoption center.
Penny Zwart ran the center, and she continues to rescue greyhounds with a devoted group of volunteers now that the racetrack has closed.
As I see it, Jade had nine lives over the course of her 11-plus years, beginning at a puppy farm in Florida. The scars on her lovely brindle coat attest to the trials of her early years.
Her second life, as a racer, also had its perils. Her handlers at the former Shoreline Star Race Track must have treated her kindly, however. They retired her when she was 2.
I traced Jade’s ancestry as far back as 1788 to top racers in England and Ireland by looking up the numbers on her ear tattoo. She came from prime stock, with relatives who were top-ranked racers, bred and esteemed for their speed and prowess. Despite her championship lineage, Jade didn’t win many races.
Jade’s third life began when she came to live with us. I was the one who took her for long walks and let her run free off leash in a protected place where I didn’t have to worry about her running away.
A few years after we adopted her, she ran away. We were worried sick. Then we got a phone call. A man on the other end said he found her on the road and saw her name and phone number on her tag. Jade had survived her fourth life.
Jade made it through her fifth life as the result of our son, Nick’s, rapid response to a life-threatening situation.
One day Nick came home to a dreadful sight: Jade had caught her long, thin, front leg under the outdoor kennel wire and was bleeding profusely.
I was in the middle of deadline and couldn’t leave work. My parents dropped everything to take Jade to the Berkshire Veterinary Hospital in Sandy Hook.
Drs. John Roumanis and Karin Harter were not sure they’d be able to save her leg, and even if they did, they said she would need a skin graft. Jade spent days in the animal hospital. Miraculously, the wound healed, and enough skin grew back to avoid a graft.
Jade was so spooked by fireworks one summer that she bolted, ripping the leash right out of my hand. No match for her 45 miles an hour, I lost sight of her.
We searched for hours. Then we got a call from a female officer. She had found Jade, who was shaking with fear. The officer took pity and returned her to us.
She survived her seventh life, a fall down the stairs one morning, as I was getting ready for work. Nick and I found Jade with her chest on the floor, legs outstretched, uttering a pitiful sound, her eyes dilated with fear. After a time, she was able to stand up.
Her eighth life was when she survived surgery to have most of her teeth removed due to severe gum disease. I regularly brushed her teeth, but it was not enough to prevent the disease.
Her ninth life turned out to be her last. She grew weaker and showed signs of internal bleeding and eventually could barely stand up. Dr. Harter prescribed medicine to stop the bleeding, and Jade rallied for two more months.
Then one bitter cold day last January, Nick called me at work to say that Jade was making gurgling sounds and wouldn’t get off the couch. He got his friend, Maria, to help take her to the veterinary hospital, but Jade didn’t make it. She died on the way in his car. Thank goodness Maria was there with Nick.
Dr. Harter and her staff had cared for Jade so many times and were surprised and saddened by the suddenness of her passing. They treated us with immense kindness.
Eventually, everyone left but me; I went in to see her one last time; I found her motionless but looking peaceful. The vet technician removed her collar and asked if I would like to keep it; it was still warm.
We had to break the news to Alexandra later that night; she took it hard.
I donated Jade’s belongings to Pups without Partners. We’re not ready for another dog yet. We have an elderly, high-maintenance cat and a young cat Alexandra and her boyfriend rescued; the old cat is not amused.
But when we’re ready, there’s no question what kind of dog it will be. To find out more about adopting a retired racer, visit pupswithoutpartners.org
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