MEET JACK McGEHEE
Jack is a pretty dog, who for many years has belonged to our neighbors, Barbara and Kenneth McGehee. He used to go to JR’s body shop next door to them and steal a tool to bring home to Kenneth. He was velcroed to Kenneth and was his constant shadow with every step he took. Those two had a very special bond that was unbreakable!
Jack barked at everyone who came near their driveway, but has never been known to bite anyone or even snap. He has always been a bluff, but a good watch dog! He watched the McGehee’s house all night, but also watched our house and Barbara’s sister’s house next door to the McGehee home. If anything or anyone came near any one of our houses, he’d let us know in a loud series of barks that would scare even the booger man away.
In all these years, Jack never came in our yard to visit, in fact, he even barked at us when we pulled into our own driveway, but he and our Australian Shepherd, Cookie Goodpuppy Brundige were friends and met every day at the edge of our yard after her chores at the barn were done.
Well, some things change over time, and so did Jack. I don’t recall him ever going to our barn, so Cookie must have told him that her barn chores included chasing her “Barn-Cat Friends” out of the way at feeding time, putting the horses in their stalls to eat and then turning them back to pasture after their meal was finished.
Time passed and they met at the edge of the road daily, but that was the extent of Jack’s visits for about 7 or 8 years.
Almost 3 years ago in May, Kenneth passed away and left Jack with no man in his life. Then in December, Cookie had a stroke and died.
Loosing Cookie was a sad time, and Joe told me how badly it was going to hurt to bury his “barn helper”, so I told him I would do it for him. He went off to work and I started the gruesome task at hand. I felt that I was being watched and when I turned around, there was Jack in the yard about 10 feet behind me, quietly watching. He made no attempt to bark at me, just watched.
The next morning, about 4:30 AM, when Joe opened the back door to go to the barn, imagine his surprise to find Jack leaning against the door, waiting to go to the barn. He followed along with Joe and proceeded to do Cookie’s chores in the order that they had always been carried out. How could he have known if Cookie hadn't "told" him?
That afternoon, when Joe came in from work, there was Jack, waiting in the driveway, and back to the barn they went. He has done the same every day since and has never missed even one trip to the barn to do what are now “his” chores. He always looks forward to his rewards, a few bites of cat food and a few bites of horse feed.
It’s funny to watch him. There is only one thing he does that’s different. When the mares are turned in for feeding, he grabs hold of the tail of one and skis in behind her.
Jack is now spoiled both places and lives here much of the time, but at night he goes home to do his duties as “neighborhood night watchman", but by 4:30 AM, rain or shine, he’s back for barn chores.
Whenever I leave the house, I always return to find him waiting and wagging, anxious to see what kind of treat I have brought him, because I never return home without something for him. He looks as if he is smiling from ear to ear and saying, “OK, now where’s my treat? I know you have it, so give it to me.....NOW!”
I cannot tell you that Jack is a good dog... no, Jack is a GREAT dog!
UPDATE!
Again, Jack McGehee has made changes that amaze us! One day during the Summer when it was around 100 degrees with the heat index, Jack decided he needed a cooler place to sleep. Keep in mind that Jack's owner says he is afraid to come inside a house! When Joe came in from the barn, Jack pushed right by him into the house. Did I mention that this 14 year old dog had never been inside a house? Hahahaha!
I told Joe this would NOT work. I just knew the first thing he'd do would be to wet all over the front of the couch or the recliners.
Well, does anything surprise you now?
Jack proceeded to lay on a doggie bed in the den and go to sleep... OK, so says I... I will watch him really close and let him out the minute he wakes up, right? The joke's on me! When he got up about 2 hours later, he headed straight for the door and RANG THE BRASS BELLS that hang down from the knob for my 2 dogs to ring when they need to go out.
Jack visits his home now and then in the mornings, but sleeps here in the house all night every night now.
Remember the old saying "I hear your Mama calling you"? Forget it. It doesn't work with Jack! Why am I not surprised?
~~~Jo Brundige~~~