Jake came into my life when he was 6 months old. I had lost my beautiful collie, Spoofie about a year previous and I was aching to have another dog in my life. Spoofie had been with me for 11 years and I missed him so much...I was hoping that a new friend would help. I went to meet Jake with my roommate...we walked into this woman's home and sat on the floor and there was the cutest...craziest..puppy I had ever seen. Jake was a wild man...running in circles..but every time he came to me, he jumped up on my lap and kissed my face. My roomie looked at me and said.."you're taking him home,aren't you" He had won my heart that day. Jake was a crazy puppy and some of the things he did still cause me to laugh and shake my head. We lived in an apartment building, sometimes when Jake would get out of the apartment, He'd get on the elevator and go visiting. You never knew where you'd find him. Jake also was a wanderer...if he got out of the house without a leash..he was gone exploring. He chased cars and rabbits and cats...and when you'd call him to come home, he'd look at you with pure stubborness and let you know he was not ready to come in yet. I used to get so frustrated and angry with him, but at night, he'd climb up on my lap and give me his special Jake hug. He'd put his paws on my shoulder, put his nose on my nose and look right into my eyes and then he'd give great big sloppy beagle kisses. It cured the anger. As Jake got older he stopped running off, he learned how to walk without a leash and to come when he was called. He loved home. He liked to lie on the couch on a cold night with his head on a pillow curled up under the blanket...and he let it be known that I was very lucky that he shared his bed with me every night. Jake loved to go visit his grandma....he would get so excited when you'd ask him "wanna go to grandma's?" He'd bounce at the door dancing around barely containing himself until we got in the car....He knew that grandma always had special treats for him. Jake had a special way about him. He could make a person who didn't like dogs, love him. He loved to kiss and cuddle and snuggle on your lap...he was a people dog...but he was his mommy's boy. Jake was by my side through everything...good days and bad. We shared a very special bond and love. Jakey-face bologna butt was truly my angel. He would always protect me from danger...even if he sometimes was hiding behind my back growling at a noise. I lost Jake one month ago today. 5/21/02. He was born on the 4th of July 1987--my Yankee Doodle Beagle--He was almost 15 years old. He suffered from severe arthritis and was in pain. I came home from work to find him lying on the floor. He had lost the use completely in his back right leg and could no longer stand. The vet told us that the kindest thing we could do was put Jake to rest. I held him and looked into his eyes and whispered...what do you want me to do...and he looked back at me with those beautiful pain filled brown eyes and just seemed to say..."make it stop hurting" So we did. Jake had his mommy and his grandma with him...and we both held him and told him how loved he was...and we got our kisses goodbye from him. I held him as the vet gave him the final shot and he left this world as I kissed him and thanked him for all of the love he gave me every single day of his life and I told him how much I loved him and how much I would miss him. But, I do know that he is with Spoofie at the Rainbow bridge and just as we know Spoof watched over Jake during his life, we know they will take care of each other until we are all together again someday.