You were my very best friend, the one who was there when no one else was. You were my running partner, my walking buddy, my ride-a-long, my sidekick. We spent very little time apart. I still walk the paths through the woods and the neighborhood where we walked hundreds of miles in the short 9 years that I had you. I know every bush, every mailbox that you stopped to check out. No matter where I go in the house, the garage, or the back yard, I see you everywhere. I swear sometimes I hear your collar when you would shake or scratch.

Going to the bank now sure is different. When I get into the car, I can see you in the passenger seat, standing up, head out the window. How you loved to go for a ride but especially to the bank. You knew when we went through that drive through window you were going to get a treat from the lady. You were so sweet the way you would look back at me while riding. You would often put your paw on my right forearm and just look at me and then you would turn back to hang your head back out the window. Yes, my bank runs are depressing now.

I actually miss having to vacuum the house 2 and 3 times a day to get up all of your fur. How I wish I had that "problem" now. I loved how you would nip playfully at my sides and back when I would stoop down to dust off the entertainment center. You would never want me to finish my work. You wanted to play instead and that was okay.

I loved when we would play "chase" and you would chase me down the hall and when I'd turn around you'd run ahead of me so I was chasing you. We would go around and around the sofa and love seat in a circle until I would get dizzy. Oh how I miss that. How I miss you.

How I only so desperately wish that I could have helped you and I could have saved you. The decision that was made was the hardest thing I ever faced. The guilt I now carry is all-consuming. I don't sleep much nor eat a whole lot these days. I never dreamed things would end the way they did or as abruptly as it happened. That night was so unexpected. I just hope you know how much you were loved unconditionally. I hope you can forgive me, for right now I can't seem to forgive myself. I wish I could have helped you. God above knows how desperately I wish I could have helped you. I'm so so sorry baby boy that I couldn't help you and that last time, that last incident, surpassed my "fearing" you out of respect for how you were with your issues, and took me to a place of "being scared" of you. I feared you before, but I had never been scared of you until after that night. And we saw the progression, though, leading up to that night and we knew from every vet and animal behavior specialist that it would happen again and that it might be worse. My heart did not want to believe that, did not want to accept that. But I did become scared of you and I had no one to help me with you, no one willing to come along side of me and try to help me with you. And I am so very sorry for that. Please forgive me. Please forgive me that I couldn't save you. My heart is just crushed inside. I'm so sorry baby. I'm so sorry.

Please know that the good times far exceeded the "bad". The only thing I would change is the ending of your story. You were a good dog in so many ways...my best friend. Even had I been able to see in the future and see what would happen the night of Feb. 1, I would have still welcomed you into my home and into my heart. And I would have still loved you just as I did and always will. You were my baby boy, my little pumpernickel, my Action Jackson. My heart and my life has a huge hole in it now for you took it with you and there it will forever stay.

I know you are finally at perfect peace now...no fear, no anxiety...just perfect peace. I look forward to the day that I get to experience that same peace with you.

Know you will never be forgotten, you could never be replaced, and you will forever be in my heart and loved.

Love forever and always,
Your mama

3/12/2018 - Well my baby boy, you have been gone for exactly one month today and as I write this, my heart aches so deeply. How I miss you every single day. I still just cannot believe that things ended up this way. How I regret the decision we made. How I wish I could go back and change things...do things right. My ignorance and lack of knowledge about raising you ended up making us all pay a very high price, but especially you. I'm so so sorry Jackson. I will never forgive myself. I just wanted you to know I think about you all the time, every day, every night. I love you more than words can say. I miss you terribly. You have my heart...always. Love, Mama

3/15/2018 - Well baby boy, today is your 9th birthday. How my heart aches to see you again, to take you for your morning walk, to scratch your "butt"...that magic spot on your back. On that last block to the house, you always stopped and looked up at me, wanting me to scratch the magic spot. How I wish I could do that one more time. I just can't forgive myself for having you put down. It seems so unfair. I wish I knew what went through your mind that night when you attacked me and hurt me. How I wish I knew what I did that made you respond that way. I know I made a lot of mistakes as your "mama". I never raised a furbaby before. I tried to show you love in every thing I did. I never took any good thing from you. I spoiled you, maybe too much so and not enough boundaries. I'm so so sorry I was such an epic fail as your mama. I know it's my fault you are no longer here with me. There is such an empty hole in my heart now. I wish I could do things over again. Your story's ending would be so different. Just please know that I loved you with all my heart and soul. I always will. There will never be another you. No other furbaby will ever be able to fill your shoes or the void in my heart. I love you my little Action Jackson. Happy Birthday, Baby Boy!

4/12/18 - It has been two months now since I have seen you, heard your bark, thrown the ball down the hall for you to chase. My heart still aches so much. There is an emptiness to every thing now. I wake up in the middle of the night and think of you, knowing you are not in the next room on your bed. Life goes on for me but it isn't the same. How I wish so badly I had not bothered to take you out for one final time that night before bed time. You didn't even really pee much. If I had not taken you out and just left you on your bed, you would still be here. I never dreamed in a million years that in about 30 seconds everything would change so drastically. I still stand at the back door where "it" happened and wonder what went through your mind. Did you even know you hurt me? Did you mean to? In that 30 seconds, you made me so afraid of you. I hate that I was afraid of you and that I couldn't get beyond it. Everyone told me that it would happen again and that it would only get worse. I know they were probably right but that doesn't make me feel better. It only makes me feel even worse because I couldn't help you at that point. Please just know I love you so much. I hope you knew that I love you.

5/12/18 - It has been 3 months now since I saw that adorable face, heard your bark, or had you to come charging behind me and head butt me in the behind when you wanted to play. The past two weeks sure have been hard baby boy. It's like the pain of losing you is fresh all over again instead of getting better. I'm just so sorry that I didn't feel I could save you. I wanted to go get you before they put you to sleep. But I was so scared of you, that the next time would be worse. I hate that I didn't know how to help you. I hate that I found out so much too late. I love you with all of my heart and I miss you terribly. This is just so unfair...unfair to you mostly, but unfair to all of us who love you. How I wish I could turn back time and not be so afraid and go back and get you and bring you home...give you another chance. Please forgive me, Jackson...I'm so sorry. Please know that mama loves you and would never have hurt you or taken anything good thing away from you. I'm so sorry you didn't trust me. I failed you...please forgive me.

6/12/18 - Four whole months and yet it seems like an eternity since I have seen you. How my heart breaks every day over what happened and how I felt I could not help you, could not save you. I love you baby boy. How I wish I could have taken your place. I don't visit your memorial too often because it just hurts too much. I miss you more than I can put into words. Please...Please...just know that I love you more than anything. Little Mitzy has joined you now. How my parents heart is breaking now as well. I know they understand my grief. Please keep their little girl in your care. I know you will take good care of her. I love and miss you so much...how I miss my little Action Jackson.

7/12/18 - Five months and as I write this my heart grieves so deeply. I wish I could have saved you. I wanted to go get you and bring you home. God, how I wish I had given you one more chance. I'm so sorry baby boy. Mama is so sorry. I love and miss my best friend, my buddy, my little Action Jackson.

8/25/18 - I'm a little late in writing this month but it isn't because I have forgotten you. It's just hard sometimes to come here. I'm crying even now, with my heart ripping out of my chest thinking of your last days, how miserable I know you were. God, how I am so very sorry Jackson. I'm so sorry. I miss you every day and every day I regret not giving you one more chance. Everyone tells me that I did the best thing for everyone, that you would have only gotten worse. If only I had not been so ignorant in the do's and the do not's when you were little this probably would have never happened and you would still be here. I'm so sorry I failed you as your mom...

9/27/18 - I'm late again baby boy but not because I have forgotten you. We had Hurricane Florence to come right through our little city. I know you would have been at the end of the hall right by my bedroom - it's where you felt safe and secure. How I love and miss you every day. It's still hard to talk about even though it has been 7 months since that awful night. I wish I understood. I'm still so very sorry I let you down as your mom. I wish I had known then what I know now. You would still be here. Please forgive me, Jackson. I never meant for anything like this to happen. There's a part of my heart that will always be empty without you. You are truly one of the most precious things that I ever received in this world. Mama loves you with all of her heart.

12/22/18 - Baby Boy...I've not written lately but it isn't because I have forgotten you. My heart will never forget you. It's just hard to come here sometimes because reality sets in. This is the first Christmas I have not had you here with me in 9 years. I miss you so much. It still hurts so badly. I wish I could have helped you. I just don't understand what happened. Please know mama loves you and wishes you were here. It doesn't feel like Christmas and I don't really feel like celebrating. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas in Rainbow Bridge with all of your new friends. Mama loves her little Action Jackson.

2/12/19 - Well Baby Boy, it has been a year since you went to Rainbow Bridge. It is still so hard to believe that you are not here with me. Tears stream down my cheek as I type this and the hole in my heart is as big as ever. I miss you so much. The guilt still consumes me. I wish I had known a long time ago what I know now. You would probably still be here, laying on your bed right now. I wish I could hear your feet walking down the hall looking for me, hear your bark, see you run along the fence in the backyard chasing bumble bees. I miss seeing you in the passenger seat with your head hanging out the window...how you loved going for a ride. I miss you more than words can say. Your birthday is next month. I hate that you didn't get to reach the milestone of the "big 10". Know you are always in my heart, every day. I love and miss you so much.

5/20/19 - It has been a little while since I visited, but it isn't because I am forgetting you. That could never happen. Truth is, no matter how long it has been, when I come here and the music begins to play, my heart rips in two all over again. I tell you everyday when I walk through our woods that I miss you. I can see you everywhere back there. I never knew that something "non-human" could ever occupy so much space in my heart. I miss you more than words could ever convey. The guilt I carry seems to never lessen. I so wish I could have helped you...You should be here enjoying your 10th year. It was around this time of year that Shayn brought you over for the very first time. You were so tiny and oh so adorable. I loved you immediately. How I wish I had more time with you. Nine years was nowhere near enough. I love you Baby Boy...my Action Jackson.

12/16/19 - I know I haven't visited lately but I haven't forgotten you. I never forget. I think of you every single day and I miss you like crazy. I hurt still and I cry a little each time I walk the paths we walked. I just keep saying "I'm so sorry baby boy. God, how I am so sorry". This is my second Christmas without you. It seems like a lifetime. You are my Baby Boy...my Action Jackson. I wish I could see you again. Please know how much mama loves you and always will. No other furbaby could ever replace you. I love you to the moon and back. Merry Christmas my sweet boy!

2/12/20 - Two whole years but seems like a lifetime since I saw you. God, how my heart aches every time I come here. I miss you so much. I wish I could have gone with you. I really do. I would have taken your place in a heart beat. I miss patting your back in that magic spot and saying "whose baby is that right there?" in my silly voice. I wish I could see you again so badly. I never had a clue this would happen. Please, PLEASE know this isn't what I wanted for you and that I love you more than anything.

12/28/20 - My third Christmas without you. Seems like a lifetime ago since I last saw you, heard your bark, felt you nipping at my toes. How I miss you. I'm still so sorry. Wish I had done things differently, maybe you would still be with me. I don't know...You're my baby boy. There'll never be another you. I love you, Jackson. I may not visit here much, but I think of you every single day. You are NEVER forgotten.

12/17/21 - My fourth Christmas without you and I sit here bawling like a baby even now. I still carry so much guilt. Your life was just way too short and I feel like it is all my fault. Your absence still hurts so deeply. I sure hope and pray that our beloved pets truly do go to heaven. What I would give to see you again, love on you, and tell you how much I miss you and love you. You will always be my "Action Jackson"..my "Baby Boy". Merry Christmas Baby Boy. Mama loves you more than anyone else could ever understand.

1/1/22 - Almost 4 years you have been gone. I sit here crying my heart out. I'm still so sorry. How I wish you were here. I miss you leaning your head to the side, looking at me as though you were saying"Say what?" I miss how you whined whenever I would whine like a puppy. I miss everything about you. I hate I face another year without you. I love you, forever...My baby boy...My Jackson.

2/1/22 - 4 years when it all changed. Never thought in a million years that when I let you out for the final time that night that you would never stay the night in our home again, sleeping on your bed that you guarded with your life. Oh, how I wish that awful night never happened. I sit here and cry uncontrollably as I write this. I will never be free from this guilt. I miss you so much and I love you Baby Boy with all of my heart.

2/1/23 - 5 years. It's so hard to believe. I still cry over you often. I can hardly come here to your memorial. It hurts me so deeply. People don't understand how I could grieve over "just a dog". You were NEVER just a dog. You were my very best friend, the one who was by my side always. We were rarely apart. I miss you more than I could ever write in words. I'm just so sorry with what unfolded 5 years ago tonight. I had no clue that morning of January 31 would be the last night you slept in our home or that you only had 12 days to live and those days would be apart from me. There's a hole in my heart that will never be filled by anything or anyone. It is your place. How I love you Baby Boy. I will hurt until the day I die.

2/12/23 - 5 years today. My heart still rips out of my chest just as it did then. I can't come here without feeling so deflated, defeated, and lost. God knows how much I miss you each and every single day. I'm so sorry that your short little life ended as it did. It isn't fair. It's cruel and I will never forgive myself. You are forever a part of me and I will always love you.

2/12/24 - 6 years today. How I still miss you and cry over you. I know it has been a year since I have written to you. It just upsets me so much that it is hard. I kiss your little urn when I walk by it. Yesterday I took out your paw print and held it. We have another dog, Chelsie. I love her but she will never take your place. You are so special to me, it's hard to put into words. I'm glad you are no longer in pain and that you are happy, regardless of my own pain. It's my hope that animals really do go to heaven and that I will see you again. I miss you my Action Jackson and I love you dearly. Please know that.