Our old dog, Jack, turns 21!

[ThomCat]

Jack is the Black and white dog. He hasn't had it easy. he was born with one eye, and he been almost blind in that eye for a long time. He is almost deaf. And he is now getting so weak that he can't climb stairs or climb onto furniture anymore.

This weekend is his 21st birthday. We're throwing a party on Sunday. We're going to have a meatloaf birthday cake for him, and peanut butter cookies shaped like bones. The dogs all LOVE peanut butter. :9

We are inviting over a bunch of friends, and their dogs. Jack will almost certainly cuddle his way through the guests and then sleep through the rest of the party. Everyone else will stay awake though, and have a wonderful party. :loveya:

We were worried he might not make it. Cancer is taking a toll. He is getting weaker, and he is short of breath all the time. But he is still happy and affectionate and he still doesn't need the painkillers we got for him. So we're waiting, and keeping him comfortable and happy.

We have managed to make his last year a very happy one, full of lots of cuddles. I am so glad he made it to his 21st birthday. He deserves a party.

[Richardo]

1. Wow, that is phenomenal. What a sweet looking boy.

Happy birthday, Jack! :party:

[ThomCat]

4. Thank you!

He wasn't so sweet when he was younger. He was insecure around other dogs because he couldn't see them on one side, and he Hated cats until old age.

Thankfully he gets along pretty well with my cats. He certainly noses in and shares enough of their cat food. :P

He has become a sweet boy as he got older. Age has been very good for him. :)

[auntAgonist]

2. 21!! Wow, that's just amazing Thom.

I'm sure he loves you to pieces and is a huge part of your life. Enjoy the party, and Jack for as long as you can.

:loveya: :hug: :loveya:


happy birthday JACK!!!!


handsome pooch.

aA
kesha

[ThomCat]

8. He definitely loves me to pieces.

When I am not feeling well and I have to close myself up in my room and stay in bed for the day he keeps checking up on me. Often he'll lay down right outside my bedroom door to make sure he'll know as soon as I'm feeling better.

Then he follows me around wanting to cuddle and he isn't satisfied that I'm okay until I've cuddled with him. :loveya:

He sleeps with Jenna, but any chance he gets he wants to get lifted into bed with me. It's a huge treat for him and he presses up against me (taking over most of the bed!) and licks my face each time he wakes up. :P

He definitely loves me, and he makes sure I know it every day. :)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear ThomCat!

Aw, that's wonderful!

He's a great looking dog, and I think his years sit lightly upon him!

He looks glossy and happy, and that's all that matters...

Happy Birthday, Jack!

:toast:

[ThomCat]

9. He phographs very well.

:)

In person he looks much older than the pictures show. He has a lot of gray, and unfortunately he has grown some knots and non-cancerous growths that it was too risky to remove. So he's definitely not a pretty dog up close. But he's wonderful dog. :hug:

Wherever I am, he's always napping nearby. Right now he's a few feet away from me sprawled out on one of my old sleeping bags that he uses as a dog bed now. Every dog looks beautiful when they are asleep.

Of course, that's true for all cats, and all people too. I think it's a rule that being asleep makes almost anything look peaceful and adorable. :loveya:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. Oh, I agree!

Sleep improves everybody!

:loveya: too!

[Forkboy]

5. Happy Birthday, Jack!!

May you get the biggest slice of that meatloaf cake!

And as for you, Thom... :hug:

[ThomCat]

11. He will definitely get the first slice, and as much thereafter

as he can safely eat! :9

At his age, and in his condition, we don't limit him anymore because something isn't good for him. What's it going to do, shorten his lifespan? If he wants some human food, we give it to him. If he wants a treat, we give it to him. If he wants to eat some cat food, we let him.

At this point, all that matters is that he enjoy himself and be happy as much as possible. :)

And, hey, :hug: Right back at you. :loveya:

[Joey Liberal]

6. Wow! That is awesome! nt

[ThomCat]

12. Very much so. I wish every dog was this loved, and I wish every

one of them could live this long. It really is wonderful.

We know that sometime soon, probably within the next month we're going to have to deal with an incredible amount of sadness. But we're holding that off day by day.

[BuelahWitch]

7. Happy Birthday Jack!

He's a lucky fella to have people around to love and care for him! :loveya:

[ThomCat]

13. We're very lucky to have him around to love and care for us too!

:loveya:

[Bombero1956]

14. Jack will be 21 next week?

I just read today that a dachshund/terrier mix named Otto is now recognized by Guiness as the worlds oldest dog and he's 20 years 8 months. With Jack turning 21 next week that makes him the worlds oldest dog. I'd get on the phone to the Guiness people.

[ThomCat]

25. I just showed this to JennaLaw.

She is my friend/roommate and Jack's owner. I don't think she is going to pursue anything official with The Guinness Book because of Jack's cancer and deteriorating condition. It doesn't seem worth it to her to get any publicity for him at this point. :(

We thought the oldest dog was a German Shepard that was a few months older than Jack though. Maybe that dog passed away.

I think it would be cool to have a world record, even if only for a month. But I see her point, that it wouldn't really mean anything to Jack.

[elshiva]

15. Happy birthday, Jack!

Thank you, Jack for taking good care of our dear Thomcat. :hug:
How are you Thomcat?

[ThomCat]

26. Hi Elshiva!

:loveya:

That is a beautiful picture! :)

I'm doing mostly okay. I actually managed to get out of the house yesterday to do some shopping. In the even that I'm able to get out for Halloween we are planning my costume, so we were at the fabric store.

I had a migraine headache from 3am until early afternoon today though, so today has been difficult. But there are good days and bad days. :shrug:

I hope you are doing well. :hug:

[femmocrat]

16. Happy Birthday to Jack!

Living that long is a great accomplishment and testimony to the loving care you provided him, Thom. :hug:

[ThomCat]

27. Thankyou!

JennaLaw get's most of the credit. She brought the dogs into our household. I brought the cats. :)

Jack, unfortunately, went through several owners before coming here. At least one of those homes was not a very good one. It is wonderful that he survived so well despite having such a hard life in his early years.

Once I got him, I started doing my best to spoil him rotten with loving, cuddling and affection, and he certainly knows and appreciates it. So I can only take credit for making his last years good.

[EastTennesseeDem]

17. If I were you, I'd burst these guys' bubble

http://www.examiner.com/x-1028-Pet-News-Examiner~y2009m10d26-Worlds-Oldest-Dog-newly-crowned--Otto

Congrats to Jack! That is amazing.

[ThomCat]

28. Jenna has decided she doesn't want to.

I'm sure there are probably other dogs out there like Jack who are older than the record, but whose owner just don't call the media. :shrug:

I think it would be cool to have the birthday party make the papers, and briefly make the books, but she's right that it doesn't do Jack any good. So that other dog can keep the limelight for a while.

[yellowdogintexas]

18. Happy Birthday to Jack

[ThomCat]

29. Thank you!

:hug:

He does do much but sleep these days. I doubt he's awake more than 3 hours total throughout the entire anymore. But he's still an awesome dog, and he's going to have fun at his birthday party. :)

[susanr516]

19. Happy birthday, Jack!

Enjoy your cake--you've earned it!

:party:

[ThomCat]

30. He certainly has.

:)

Being that old seems to be pretty hard work. He has definitely earned a party.

[Redstone]

20. Helluva good run for that boy! I had a Beagle mix girl who looked like that, and

she made it to 17. But 21? Good run for a good boy. Give him a scratch behind the ear from me.

Redstone

[ThomCat]

31. Hi Redstone!

I certainly will. :)

When he woke up earlier for a little while I spent a good 10-15 minutes scratching and scrunching his ears. That seems to be what he wants this afternoon.

Right now he's sound asleep again next to me, muttering in his sleep and having a happy dream. His legs are twitching. I hope he dreams about being young, and running, and jumping and romping around. :)

[mwdem]

21. What a sweet baby!

He seems to have had a great life, to have lived that long. Good on ya!

[ThomCat]

32. His beginning was difficult.

Then my friend and roommate JennaLaw took him in and things got better for him. He would not have had nearly as good a life without her.

When we moved in together she brought the dogs into our household and I brought the cats. I'm homebound because of my disabilities, so I'm here with him all day every day to make him comfortable and happy. That has definitely helped him at the end of his life.

Of course, that also means that he has been here with me to help keep me happy and active despite my disabilities, so which one of us is really helping whom? :P

[onestepforward]

22. Happy Birthday Jack!

Enjoy your meatloaf birthday cake!

:party:

[ThomCat]

33. The big question is, what kind of gravy do we use as icing?

:P

[barb162]

23. Awww, how sweet. Happy birthday, Dearest Jack. n/t

[ThomCat]

34. Thank you!

:)

[graywarrior]

24. Awwww, I want to hug him!

[ThomCat]

35. You are very welcome to come and give him a hug.

:loveya:

I am very sure he would love you too. :)

[BrklynLiberal]

36. What a sweetie pie..and how lucky youwere to have been able to share your love

with him...and receive his unconditional love in return.
He is obvioulsy a very well-loved puppy....

Happy 21st Birthday Jack. Relax and enjoy the lovin..and the party...

:party:

[Capn Sunshine]

37. That's awesome

HBD to your dog. Very rare to hit that milestone. He looks content too.