Memories of Jodie

I first met Jodie when she came to live with Linda and Roger. Having not been near a racing hound before I was instantly struck by how muscular she was, but that soon changed after her eating numerous malted milk biscuits at coffee time! She settled into home life very quickly, enjoying lots of new luxuries such as her own bed, lots of guests to fuss her, a log burner and plenty of horse and peacock poo to eat! We introduced our Westie Jock to Jodie and she freaked out initially not knowing what this hairy creature was, but they soon became friends running round the garden, not that 14 year old Jock could keep up with a greyhound!

 Sadly, Linda and Roger were diagnosed with terminal illness not long after rehoming Jodes. This meant for me, (after just being a friend), that I became a carer for Linda, Jodie and two ponies. Jodes was always pleased to see me, and she lightened up my day.

 I was bequeathed Jodie and she came to live in my family’s home in January 2020. She joined our Jock in the relaxing life of the sofa, which having not been allowed on at Linda’s she was very unsure of, until she relented and never moved off it again! She loved her walks, always in front and on a mission. Until a car came along, which she would never move out of the way from. I often had to pick up all 26kg of her and move her onto the verge much to the amusement of the car drivers! Her other love was traveling in cars, she would tell me she wanted a journey out by standing by my car with a look on her face. She spent most of her car trips looking at me in the rear-view mirror.

  Sadly Jock passed away in the July, Jodie sat by his grave and was very dejected. So, we went and got Milo, a Jack Russell puppy. Jodie was not amused. But this very excitable puppy although highly annoying to her bought her a fresh lease of life, both being naughty and jumping on the sofa at high speeds and with high-speed chases round the garden. Jodie at last learnt to wag her tail and how to pester all the more for attention. She was also highly fashionable loving to wear coats and pyjamas, even boots till her paws were strong enough for the roads. Food was very high on her list of wants after the sofa, her favourites being prawn crackers, stolen brie and tons of crisps (she did eat healthy food too!).

  Her 7th birthday was 1st July 2021, and not long after just out of the blue she didn’t seem right, off her food and looking a little pinched in the face. So off we went to the vets, Pancreatitis was the vets first thought, tests showed it up very bad so she was hospitalised. After a couple of days there was no improvement and she was in pain, scans discovered severe cancer affecting one lung, multiple organs and heart. She was in such a state we had to say goodbye. She hid it all, she must have been unwell for such a long time. No one including the vets could believe it, having had bloods and an aesthetic for a teeth clean only two months prior where nothing showed up wrong.

  That was Jodie, a brave, loving and loyal girl taken far too soon, only three years retired but a very happy and relaxed soul.

Running Free

By Jo