Jessie
She started it all!
7/08/89 - 6/14/02

When I brought Jessie home, I had no idea how wonderful our relationship would be.  I had grown up with “outside” hunting dogs and had never experienced a true house pet.  I was amazed at how quickly we formed a bond and how easy it was to train her. She fast became the perfect pet my boss said she would be.   Jessie went everywhere with us including our small sailboat.  She loved it when the boat would lean and water would come up over the side for her to play in.  When the lake water was still, she would lie on the bow of the boat and sunbathe.  What a life!  

Jessie was a lover of the outdoors.  Many times I had to go out in the yard to carry her back inside. She would have stayed out all day if she had her way.  On a couple occasions, unbeknownst to me, she took the opportunity to explore the neighborhood on her own. I don’t think she understood the terrible fright that gave me!

 When I brought Maggie home (four years after I had gotten Jessie) I wasn’t sure how she would be received.  Jessie had been an only dog for four years and there were only a few people she liked and she certainly didn’t like the idea of another dog being within sight, smell or hearing range of our house.  I though she would have great difficulty adjusting to Maggie living with us.   I could not have been more wrong about Jessie!  She immediately loved Maggie, took her as her own and was the most patient, loving mother a puppy could have.   One thing she took very seriously was Maggie’s discipline.  If I tried to correct Maggie, Jessie would take charge and grab her back leg to hold her still for me. 

 In 2001 Jessie developed bladder cancer and with great drugs was able to be with us until June 2002.  The doctor said I would know when the time was right to let her go and that time did indeed come at 3:30 in the morning.  It was a beautiful summer night and on the way to the emergency room I held her up so she could hold her head out the window and feel the warm summer breeze.  As uncomfortable as she must have been I could tell she loved it and still had that Westie spirit in her.  She truly “started it all” -- my love affair with Westies!

                Beverly