Written by Dave Kraitzick
Professional photography by Blue Lace Photography
Adopting Einstein after Jake’s passing...
Jake, my Cocker Spaniel, was my heart doggy, and even though I’ve had many pets in my life, he had a way of reaching and touching my soul like no other had ever done. We shared just under five years together and we endured some incredibly tough times that just brought our souls closer. I’ll never understand how anyone could ever surrender such a beautiful soul and he had such a beautiful character. I never regretted bringing him into my family, not even for one moment! His antics and obsession with sticks made him famous and loved by so many.
In his last year he was gravely ill with meningitis and then later Addison’s Disease; I nearly lost him a few times but he was such a fighter and kept coming back. Sadly, on the 9th of February 2023, after we found an inoperable tumour on his pancreas, I made the hardest decision to send him across the Rainbow Bridge.
His passing left me beyond devastated and plunged me into the saddest period of my life. Jake was my everything and his absence left a huge void in my life that seemed impossible to fill! My grief at losing Jake felt so deep and the hurt inside of me was so severe that I made a decision to delay adopting another Spaniel.
An instant connection
However, two weeks after Jake’s passing, I saw a picture of Einstein on Spaniel Welfare South Africa’s Facebook page and the look in his eye was identical to Jake… his eyes spoke to me the same way as Jake and made me feel a bit warmer. So, I took the plunge and phoned to enquire.
Within 20 minutes it was decided that Einstein was coming to me. Needless to say, the ladies at Spaniel Welfare knew it was a match. In view of the fact that Einstein was in Cape Town and I was in Pretoria, it took two weeks for him to arrive. However, I immediately started to feel better knowing that I’d have another Spaniel to share my home.
When I fetched Einstein, he just jumped into my car as if he’d known me his whole life. There was an instant connection, and from the very first moment with him I just knew he was going to be ok and that he was going to help me through my grieving process.
It was meant to be
When we arrived home, he sniffed my house out and greeted Jessie (my other doggy) and was very content. The most amazing thing was that he made himself comfortable on Jake’s spot on the couch. I did feel guilty that I was adopting so soon after Jake’s passing, but every time I looked at Einstein I could feel Jake’s presence.
On checking Einstein’s vet book I discovered his birth date was the 9th of February, and Jake passed on the 9th of February. So I believe somehow Jake played a part in sending Einstein to me.
A few days after I’d been joined by Einstein, Jessie had a stroke and we had to send her to heaven. This was a very traumatic event on the back of losing Jake. Einstein was with me at the vet and in the car on the way back from the vet. He put his head and paws on my leg to comfort me. My vet said that she believed that Jessie had waited just long enough to keep my heart warm after Jake’s passing and, when she saw Einstein was going to keep my heart warm, she told me she was now ready to go and rest.
Einstein has been a godsend… I truly don’t know what I’d have done without him. In the first few weeks he didn’t want to eat much and had separation anxiety. He’s adjusted quickly and easily to my life and gets on with all my other pets. I still miss Jake and Jessie very deeply and he’s kept my heart warm in all these sad days and moments. I just snuggle with him and I know we’re going to be ok. He runs and walks with me… and I try my best to include and take him with me in everything I do.
He’s so different to Jake yet has the identical essence to Jake. I’m not sure if that essence is just the character of a Spaniel, which may well be a common thread for all Spaniels because they’re very special and unique doggies.
An amazing gift
Einstein has now been with me for six months and I can categorically say that I’d still be in the depths of pain from losing my other doggies had I not adopted him. He brightens my every day and has a way of showing me that I’m never alone. I already love him so much, and although he’ll never replace Jake, he’s found a very special place in my heart. It was the best decision I ever made, and if ever I’m faced with this again, I’ll definitely adopt quickly! While the pain of losing a special doggy will never go away, I’ve learnt that giving another furry a home goes a long way to coping with the pain and soothing the hurt.
I believe Jake was a gift from God and that Einstein was a gift from Jake. Einstein literally never leaves my side and I try my best to never leave him at home and include him in everything I do. When I go run or cycle he waits patiently with his head on my fence waiting for me to return, and my neighbour tells me that shortly before I arrive home from work he comes to the fence in anticipation of my arrival. He’s gentle and affectionate and is loved by everyone who meets him. He sleeps in my bed with me and all my kitties walk on top of him and sometimes even snuggle with him. Einstein is my own doggy, whereas Jake I shared with the world. I believe he’s just as special as Jake, but in a different way. I still miss Jake so much and the tears and hurt hit me often, but Einstein takes me through all those hurtful times and makes my heart warm
Einstein is amazing – so different to Jake, yet almost identical in his soul!
