Capt. Jack Sparrow Jenkinson

RIP September 2nd, 2008

Jack (the dog formerly known as “Prince” – really, he was!) was originally picked up off the street by a good Samaritan when he was about 1 ½. This kind person took him to OBG instead of leaving him at the shelter that would have put him down. When he came to OBG, it was clear that he had been abused and abandoned. But the wonderful volunteers helped him get over his initial fears so he could find a loving home. In February 2004, my husband and I went looking for our first dog. We found him at the OBG adoption show at the Springfield Pet Smart. We met a ton of wonderful dogs that day, but Jack was the one for us. You can read all about his Happy Ending that we posted back when we first got him!

Jack was a wonderful friend and companion. He was handsome, athletic, smart and loving. Unfortunately, we were only blessed with this great companion for 4 ½ years. In July of 2008, Jack was diagnosed with severe liver disease. The vets had no idea when where, or how he had contracted it. They told us that the liver is so resilient, and has such regenerative capabilities, that he could have had the disease even before we got him. By the time he started to show symptoms and we finally caught it, the liver was too far gone to salvage. They gave him medications to give him strength and to ease his pain, but we knew it was just a matter of time. Six weeks later, on September 2nd, 2008, he took a turn for the worst, and he showed us clearly that it was time to let him go. My husband and I held him in our arms until the moment the life left him.