Meet Jack.  Also known as Mr. Biggles, Sweebits, Chicken, and Sweebo.   Sweebo, the name I gave my adorable Rat Terrier when he came into my life 13 years ago.  Sweebits, when he wouldn’t eat, where I had to practically feed him with a spoon.  Anything to get the dog to eat.   Chicken as I called him affectionately since this was his favorite treat and would demand this over anything I would put in front of him.   Mr. Biggles came along in his later years, as he slowed down and enjoyed sniffing more than running wild.

Life with Jack began one week after my father’s burial.  My brother Peter and I had ventured downtown Pleasant Hill for some post 4th of July fun, a hot summer day, and the thought of an iced latte deemed appropriate for a mid-afternoon laze.   We passed by an adoption stand where we saw this intelligent terrier giving us eye contact, for which Peter exclaimed…’what a cool dog…!

” You want a dog?  Get the dog…”  I said.

Later that day, I came home and this angel greeted me at the door as if he had always been in our home.  Little Jack at 16 months old, will become part of our lives, imparting joy, mischief and pure pride in my heart for years to come.

Jack’s great adventures will begin almost immediately, with the first walk around the apartment complex, new smells, and what would normally take 20 minutes to walk would take about an hour for the dog had to sniff everything intently.

So, was the beginning of life with a dog.  Not just a dog, but an intelligent Rat Terrier who will become a legend in my mind.  A little Sweebit! Mr. Biggles. Jack.