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If There Aren't Dogs In Heaven I Won't Go There...

Lisa Vaught
Apr 22, 2015
3 min read

best xmas pic 2007 w Trav and Jet TWENTY.jpg

Hello!

Today I would like to celebrate the short but eminently productive life of my first service dog, Jet. It's taken days to wittle the pictures down to just a few, to give you a feel for who Jet was and the impact he still has not just on my life, but others who crossed his path!

In the four short years we were together he: called 911 on the phone, predicted my seizures 20minutes prior, allowing me to medicate and usually miss the seizure all together. He flew with me in an airplane four different times, and was a great traveler whether on the ground or in the sky. He LOVED to shop, and would shop till I dropped! He loved the library and the smells of all the books and hands that had touched those books~ facinating! He had a sharp sense of humor, and was quite the practical joker. He started the day smiling and fell asleep the same way. There's really too much to tell you except he was 'the dog' who captures that really special part of your heart...the place everyone knows they have, and some never find. Canine Assistants calls those canine-human bonds “forever dogs” if you're very lucky you might live your life with one sometime.

That's not to say we all don't have plenty of room and love for our future dogs or service dogs. Each is different, just as our children are. Different is good. Life would be boring otherwise. Jet was not for boring! So without further ado...I introduce you a bit to Jet, my Forever Dog who just happened to be my first service dog too! Thank you Jet for your smarts, character, strength...and most of all, your love.

This is Jet and I at graduation at Canine Assistants, January 2007

Jet allowed me to be able to walk along the beach with my husband together, something my weak legs hadn't been able to for many years.

Jet had a snout full of delicious smelling sand! Mmmmmmmmmmm! He ran in circles, dug a huge hole in the sand, and had a blast! Here I'm cleaning him up a bit.

Freedom Has Four Legs and a Tail (2).jpg

We did so many wonderful things together....I'm just giving you a little peek into the neat things we did together!

This is my boy a few weeks before he left. He refused to stop working. Our vets knew and said to let him tell us 'when.'

A sick day, Jet giving his healing kisses. They really helped!

Jet meets Dad in June 2007 SEVENTEEN_edited.jpg

Jet met Dad and they both fell in love with one another!

Jet and Ma hit it off too! He even decided to sit on her lap! Tee Hee!

Jet and I were honored to help a young man recieve his gift of a dog from Canine Assistants. Food City and Milk Bone were the sponsors for his dog. A few months later he recieved his very own service dog from Canine Assistants. To date their team has graduated with not one, but two graduate degrees!

Jet and I even got to meet David Landers, the star of 'Laverne and Shirley'. He is a representative for the Multiple Sclerosis society.

Jet's collar, harness, ID tags, yellow cancer ribbon_edited.jpg

I made a shadow box of his most special things. It hangs in our bedroom, under a picture where he and I are 'laughing' big belly laughs!

Jet Vaught born June 20, 2005~died in my arms April 22, 2011

Jet

"Just as I know you're sure step beside...

You are near the veil that is our divide.

In a blink of time together we will be.

Clasped in my arms again, throughout eternity."

c Lisa Panaccione~Vaught

This is wonderful painting again, in our bedroom, next to Jet's picture. The odd thing is Bill blundered upon it, loved it and gifted it to me the Christmas of 2009, prior to Jet getting ill.