In Memory of

Jessie Prinsen Maddox

(Sept. 10, 1992- Sept. 27, 2007)

Fifteen year-old Brittany Spaniel, Jessie Prinsen Maddox joined Sandy Maddox on the other side today at approximately 4:25 pm CST. After a good, long life, three owners, five houses, and two states, Jessie felt like she had seen enough. The day before her passing, she would not come when called. Her owners, the Maddox family, knew that her hearing and sight were getting questionable, but even when she was approached she did not want to get up to come inside where her soft, comfy bed awaited her.

Later that night, she really wanted to go back outside, which was strange. Her mom, Evie, felt bad for leaving her outside all night so she coaxed her inside. She was treated with a nice, relaxing bath, which revealed many skin irritations, fleas, and boney spots. It seemed that she was no longer thriving, and the lump on her side that appeared three years before may have grown into something much more. That night, Jessie was sick all night and her mom REALLY wishes she had listened to her and let her stay outside!! But as the day went on, it was clear that the end had come.

Laying on the concrete, Jessie only lifted her head long enough to communicate with sad, wise eyes that she was ready. She shook uncontrollably and tried to find comfort under the gentle breezes and sunshine that peeked around the house. Anna Maddox, Jessie's four year-old sister, put a towel over Jessie which remained for a while as she was too tired to shake it off. Jessie's mom called the vet, and the appointment was set. Although the family had prepared for this moment for at least two years, it was a very difficult decision. The only reassurance came from Jessie's gaunt eyes that had changed dramatically from the day before. It was as if she had become a different dog.

Daddy Maddox, sister Chelsea, and brother Thomas all chauffeured Jessie  to her final vet visit. She peacefully went to the other side not long after the vet put the drugs in her vein. The look of "thanks" was the last communication received by the Maddox family from their beloved dog.

Reflecting on Jessie's long life, we share these memories that we never want to forget:

Jessie was a very smart dog, but we could never train her to not eat food that wasn't hers. During her lifetime she got her paws on a half a bag of Chips Ahoy cookies, and once I could not find a loaf of bread I had brought home from the store. (There's no telling what else she's had!) A month later I found the empty bag in the back corner of the yard. She had taken it where she knew she would not be caught!

One day we had some party balloons out and they got put up, I was sure of it! A couple of days later, we were walking Jessie at the park and she stopped to do her business. Out came a colorful rainbow of balloons and we quickly realized that the other of us had not put the balloons away- Jessie did!

At our first house, we had a possum family living in our backyard. Jessie proudly trounced across the yard with an apparently dead young possum in her mouth and dropped it on the back porch. Daddy Maddox shoveled the possum into two kitchen trash bags and put them in the trash can outside. The next day, Evie decided to peak in there, and what a surprise she found! The possum wasn't dead at all and stared back at her from the bottom of the can! Apparently he had eaten his way out of the bag and was grateful when Evie tipped the trash can over and set him free.

Somewhere along the way, we decided to adopt a friend's dog because she decided she couldn't keep him. She did not tell us he had violent tendencies, and he was VERY territorial of Evie fairly quickly. Being optimistic, we overlooked signals that hindsight reveals quite well. After two days, the dog wanted to get rid of Jessie and have Evie all to himself. A fight ensued in the garage, and the bigger, meaner dog was fought off, but not before he had damaged Jessie fairly well. The vet fixed her up the next day, and the prior owner was advised by her vet that the attacking dog should be put to sleep. Jessie recovered nicely.

It may be true that cats have nine lives, but it looks like it's true for Jessie, too! Living to her life expectancy despite her interesting diet and a near fatal attack is an amazing feat! Perhaps the love and nurturing of Jessie's third and final family was enough to sustain her all these years.

Jessie joins Sandy, Clyde, Blackie, Wiggles, and too many cats to count on the other side. She leaves behind a family who will never forget her, including siblings Princess, Biscuit, Chelsea, Thomas, and Anna.