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by mallet from Fox 29

Last Post 26 days Ago


Farewell to my best friend, Emma Jo
Oct 9, 2007 | 9:44 PM
Category: News
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  Emma Jo Mallet died this morning shortly before nine.  It was very peaceful.  A kind Wisconsin Veterinarian came to our home and put my favorite brown-eyed girl to sleep.  She hated going to the veterinarian's office more than anything.  We didn't want to say goodbye to her in a freshly-scrubbed examining room furnished with an uncomfortable metal table.  We wanted to say goodbye to her in the king size bed she shared with us each night.  There was no stress nor fear for our girl this morning.  Her mommy held her and stroked the soft fur on her oversized ears as the good doctor gave her an overdose of anesthetic.

Emma was the most beautiful South Carolina Squirrel Dog in the world.  We called her a South Carolina Squirrel Dog because she came from a shelter in Greenville and loved to chase squirrels.  She was too kind, loving and loyal to be referred to as a mutt. For 13 years she was my wife's constant companion.  For ten years, she was my best friend.

I met Emma in 1998 when my wife and I first started dating.  My relationship with Karen was touch and go at first.  But Emma and I fell in love immediately.  Emma needed a big dumb guy to run with.  I needed a loyal dog to keep me on course.  Even when Karen and I had our occassional breakups, Emma and I continued to spend time together.  Whenever Karen took a trip, Emma stayed with her big dumb guy.  She had the most unusual ability to look into my eyes as if she understood whatever dopey story I was telling her.  She loved to ride with me in my wreck of a Honda Civic and fill it with big tufts of her blonde hair.  She was the perfect fishing partner, always willing to watch the rods if I ran inside to get a cold beer and a milkbone.  Until she was 11 years old, she could still run 3 miles with me and would spin in circles whenever she saw me putting my running shoes on.  She was very tolerant of my career in Philadelphia television, playing whatever role was required of her on the Ten O'Clock News or Good Day Philadelphia.  Ultimately she proved herself to be the quintessential morning dog and became as well-known to the Good Day audience as some of the many human participants who have come and gone.

Emma's days were happy til nearly the end.  It was only this weekend that she became so weak and tired.  Karen and I took turns carrying her up and down the stairs of our old Wisconsin home. This morning when Karen and I awoke, she was still curled up like a butterball on the bed between us, but she was unable to standup.  It was time.  I had really hoped old Emma would share the upcoming cold Wisconsin nights with us.  We still have our sweet, stinky wolf: Kubla.  But Emma Jo will always be my first best friend.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 19
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Mattweb read my blog
Oct 9, 2007 | 11:18 PM

Leaving the world with the people that loved her most. If we could all be that lucky... Peace to you, Karen, and Emma Jo.
mallet read my blog view my photos
Oct 9, 2007 | 11:26 PM

Thanks Matt.
DeweyDevil read my blog view my photos
Oct 9, 2007 | 11:37 PM

Losing a family "friend" is always hard. But reading Emma's story , that pup lived an enchanted life and you and the Mrs were responsible for that.

And I think the spirit of Emma will over time "hint" to you Kubla might need a new friend. And we expect to hear that story when that day comes.
-JT- read my blog view my photos
Oct 10, 2007 | 9:33 AM

Mattweb
Oct 9, 2007 | 11:18 PM Leaving the world with the people that loved her most. If we could all be that lucky... Peace to you, Karen, and Emma Jo.

Amen.

George - You're a "big, dumb guy" like I'm a meteorologist.
a1jeepgurl read my blog view my photos
Oct 10, 2007 | 9:49 AM

As a cat lover, and owner of many who have gone to that 'big litter box in the sky', I feel your pain. It is one of the hardest decisions a pet owner has to make, although you know in your heart that it is time. :(
Memories last forever!
TWEET read my blog view my photos
Oct 10, 2007 | 10:55 AM

I am so sorry to hear about Emma Jo, I can understand your pain, as you know, I lost 2 of my best friends this summer 4 days apart. Maybe Emma Jo, Misty and Matilda will meet and keep a protective I on us in death as they did in life.
Kernster4 view my photos
Oct 10, 2007 | 1:31 PM

My sympathies to you and Karen. As a devoted pet lover I understand your pain. I lost my beloved "best friend" in January - 13 years spent with my Brandy (a buff Cocker Spaniel) who had the heart of a puppy that refused to grow up. Remember the happiness and health you gave her!
dmrh3 read my blog view my photos
Oct 10, 2007 | 3:16 PM

Emma Joe is now your angel, watching over you and Karen, making sure that you both will be as happy and loved as you made her feel.
What beautiful memories you have written for all of us to share with you. Thank you for sharing them with us. God Bless all of you.
AlexR read my blog
Oct 10, 2007 | 3:32 PM

Im not going to make a patronizing speech about how shes up in a cloud enjoying endless paradise or anything. Thats a simple fallacy and makes me puke.

But what we have to remember is how delightgul- and most of all, how awesome these pets are. Sometimes i9 like my dog more than i like people-actually, most of the time i do :) hehe

Pets have traits humans wish to have-little jealousy, and most of all, cuteness that doesnt fade with age (hehehe)

Its good to live the rest of your life remembering your special pet. Good luck and maybe you will be lucky enough to find a pet just as loyal.
flyerspac read my blog view my photos
Oct 10, 2007 | 3:52 PM

My heart goes out to you both! Pets truly are Best Friends!
Kerri-Lee read my blog view my photos
Oct 11, 2007 | 1:10 PM

George, Karen,

What sad news, I can't believe Emma's time has come.

I remember when my childhood dog, Tuffy, had to be put to sleep.. I was 23 and only had a few years of my life where she wasn't there. She lived into her late teens, and we finally, too, had to put her down. It took so long for that pain to finally dull, and still, if I stop and think about her, that tightening in my chest still happens.

Our furry friends do something to us that no human can ever really do, and they do it in a way that makes us unable to ever forget them.

I met Emma Jo several times, I too, will never forget her... she will always be your special girl.

Hugs to you and Karen, KL
TJtheBlindHorsesMom read my blog
Oct 11, 2007 | 3:07 PM

My deepest sympathy goes out to you and your wife on the loss of Emma Jo, George. Losing a pet is never easy. We find some consolation in knowing we gave them the best home possible while they were here, but in the end, the silence of their absence is louder than any bark they could have uttered in life.
mallet read my blog view my photos
Oct 11, 2007 | 3:24 PM

Everybody,
Thanks so much. I keep checking back to my blog to read your thoughts. They are giving me a lot of comfort. The world was a happy place with our Emma Jo... fur is still all over the big leather chair we each believed to be our own. I realize now, the chair was Emma's... she just let me sit in it sometimes.
jaykitty read my blog view my photos
Oct 11, 2007 | 3:45 PM

George and Karen,
I am so very sorry to hear of the loss of your Emma Jo. I've lost several doggies and kitties over the years, and I know it is truly the loss of a family member and dear friend.

Euthanasia is a terribly difficult decision, but when I have had to take this step to keep my friend from having pain, I've been amazed at how kind and gentle it is.

I hope when you both feel a bit better you will consider another shelter pet. I've always found the "adoptees" are the sweetest and the brightest

You are good people, stay strong.
TJtheBlindHorsesMom read my blog
Oct 11, 2007 | 7:12 PM

How is Kubla doing coping with the loss? I think seeing the remaining animals grieve over the loss of their friend is at least as hard to bear as our own personal sense of loss. It absolutely breaks my heart to see an animal grieving, because the animals that are left behind know their friend is gone. You can look into their eyes and see their heartbreak. Some people say animals don't have feelings. People that say that have never looked into such grief-stricken eyes.

I am very sorry for the loss of your friend, Kubla.
mallet read my blog view my photos
Oct 11, 2007 | 9:30 PM

Sue,
Yes... poor Kubla is so sad. I came home from work to find Karen in tears and Kubla in a pile beside her. Kubla really loved Emma and would always be sad if Emma was away visiting my parents. Then she would perk up when Emma returned. She's stopped eating her food (which might be a good thing for my fat little wolf) and paces the house looking for her sister. Ironically, Emma was completely indifferent to her sister's affection. That's because Emma was loved her entire life. Kubla was given up for adoption and has a greater appreciation for canine love and friendship than spoiled Queen Emma had. That said, Emma was the sweetest creature to her people. When she was in her prime, she would happily defend me from any city toughs we encountered, always growling if somebody asked me for money (usually before they even got the words out of their mouth.) Kubla would probably kiss a robber on the lips just to get her head rubbed.
-JT- read my blog view my photos
Oct 11, 2007 | 10:05 PM

Kubla would probably kiss a robber on the lips just to get her head rubbed.

When my dad was a youth, someone broke into their house one night and stole some stuff.

With nary a peep out of their dog.

My dad and my uncle always said their dog held the flashlight for the burglar.
ThunderTush read my blog view my photos
Oct 18, 2007 | 11:02 AM

My condolences. You are right though about bringing in an animal to the hospital to have him or her put down. It is cold and leaves you with a sort of empty feeling. I know that when I had to assist a vet in euthinasia, the animals knew. Only thing that I could do was stroke their fur, cry with the owners and hope they found peace.

A long time ago, I was in a vile relationship. I had to leave. I also left two of my dogs behind. I found out through a mutual friend that my ex husband had put my dogs into a shelter. I was only able to save one. The other one was put down before I knew it. To this day, I still have problems with that because I caused the demise of one of my beloved dogs.

The one who I was able to save was abused so bad that I found her crouched in the corner of the cage sitting in urine. I grabbed her and walked out. I was stopped along the way when people tried to stop me but I was so angry and upset and crying and yelling, they let me go.

I swear that my dog was crying since I was there. I never saw anything like it. She had a very good life with me after. Lots of comfort and love. Since, she has passed on but there is not a day where I do not think of her or her mother.


And when people say, they are just animals, I say, you're wrong, they are not. They are much more than that. Much more!
mallet read my blog view my photos
Oct 21, 2007 | 8:27 PM

Thundertush,
I'm sorry you went through that. I am always more affected by the struggles of animals than those of people. I know it defies logic. But that's just how I'm wired. My instructor here in Wisconsin had to put down one of her greatest horses this week. It affected her and the other horses. Very sad. But I'm always taken back to what Barbaro's owner, Gretchen Jackson, said: "Grief is the price we pay for love." I think the love is worth it.
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mallet

I'm just a guy who loves to ride horses. I used to work at Fox 29 before relocating to Wisconsin. This is a picture of me with Afleet Alex who won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes and became 3 year old champion in 2005

Member Since: 8/29/2006


 

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