After 16 years of having Cassie at Screenflex every day, we took some time to adjust to her death in March. Her failing heart was the main problem but she also had other issues related to injuries incurred in her trial days. If Jack Russells are allowed to do what they do best and go at life really hard with no holding back, it inevitably catches up with them as they get older. Cassie went at it hard and had a full Jack Russell life.

Ryley took her absence harder than anyone else, which I suppose was to be expected because she was his constant companion for all of his twelve years. The vet predicted that he would “mourn” for about a month and would then slowly adjust to being on his own. That is exactly what happened and although he has come out of the funk that he was in, there are still days when he seems to be much more subdued than he generally was when Cassie was still around.

The photograph was taken while we were preparing for a trial day on a farm near Carstairs, Alberta. Cassie is on the left in the picture in a typically alert Jack Russell pose. She was always looking for action.

It was sixteen years of constant motion, companionship, fun and rodent control.

Sixteen-year-old Cassie and 12-year-old Ryley still report for work at the Screenflex Calgary warehouse every day.

At 16 years old (that would be 112 dog years) Cassie is semi-retired and sleeps most of the day. She can be counted on to make an appearance at lunch time and again at about 5 o’clock when it is time to go home. Sometimes she’ll drag herself out of her bed to greet the mailman or the FedEx driver because they always have dog biscuits.

At 12 years old (that would be 84 dog years) Ryley is still active. His main contribution is tearing the shrink wrapping off incoming shipments but he too keeps an eye open for the mailman and the FedEx driver. 

Both are retired athletes and were very enthusiastic and successful competitors at Jack Russell Trials. Cassie was particularly fast and won many racing ribbons. Their favourite events were the obstacle races, flat races and anything else that involved running at full speed, jumping, recklessly hurling their bodies about and vicious arguments with fellow competitors. Cassie has scars and she limps, while Ryley occasionally has to visit Dr. Judy, his chiropractor, because of the lingering effects of vigorous competition in those wild younger days.

But in spite of advancing years, the terrier instinct remains strong. Squirrels, gophers and mice are still in mortal danger. In the summer, Ryley earned a bone from a Screenflex business neighbour for catching and removing a gopher from a furniture showroom. 

We have seen so many print shops with resident pets that we just had to feature as many of them as possible. Here is the first of many.

Meet Bailey, the six-year-old Rottweiler who goes to work every day at Images of Colour in Edmonton. Tammy and Darren, who own the company, tell us that his official title is Security Manager. We think that he would also make an excellent Credit Manager.

While the ruggedly handsome Security Manager’s size and stern appearance is suited to the job that he does so well, the truth is that he has a flaw in his qualifications. He is terrified of flies. Even a single fly can freak him out. Bailey makes sure that Images of Colour is well guarded and totally secure from everything… except the occasional fly.