Jiri "Jenko" v Eagleheart

Jenko Mahaney 2/23/2012 - 12/31/2012

Jiri "Jenko" v Eagleheart was one of eight pups born to Zendo in her first litter February 23, 2012. I remember the phone call when Kathy and Gina shared the fantastic news that there was a little boy for us! From that moment forward our nesting began as Kathy and Gina kept us updated and engaged with pictures and emails of the events of the litter as they grew. Several weeks passed before we found out which pup would become a part of our family, and the blessed thing is that it was the one that we both really wanted! He was the little boy with the red rick rack and off center blaze, known to Kathy, Gina and the "J" Litter Family as "Rudolf".

The first four months with Jenko were carefree and fun. He was curious and comedic as Entles are but also had a very mushy side as well. He trained easily, loved to play, and gained confidence in our home environment and with our customers in the workplace. It is an understatement to say that this little furball was by far our favorite way to spend time! Jenko loved playing Frisbee, chasing rabbits, and playing tug-a-war.

I received the NEMDA packet when Jenko was six months old and as I was reading through all of the material provided I came across the brochure on EUS. As I read through the information I realized Jenko displayed many of the different signs of EUS, signs that up to this point I thought might just be part of raising a young, un-altered male. Intuition told me that I needed to follow up on this and so our journey into having an EUS puppy began.

We had amazing support from the members of NEMDA and the breeders on both sides of Jenkos family. Kathy, Gina, Ursula and Michael were all very involved in how Jenko was doing, what tests and treatments he was having, and most importantly providing emotional support to help Michael and me through the big decisions. EUS in my understanding is still a very elusive condition as determining how it passed down through genetics is not yet fully understood. Jenkos parents (Zendo and Papa Rex) are healthy and have passed all necessary testing and all of Jenkos littermates have shown no signs of EUS.

Sparing some of the more difficult and emotional details of Jenko?s journey let me just say that we were hopeful that he would have the same success and live a long healthy life just as other Entles who have had medical treatment for EUS have done. However, it is with a really heavy heart that I am sharing the news that this part of Jenkos journey has ended. Jenko passed away at ten months old.

There are so many things I could share about the way Michael and I feel but I think it is more meaningful to share a few of the reasons letting Jenko go was so hard.

Jenko was a light in our darkness, a rekindling of our faith in miracles, specifically the miracle of love. Yet somehow the lesson this wise pup reminded us is that not all of our wishes can be granted. So our lesson with him was to recognize the joy in making the most of every minute together. A lifetime is never clearly defined until it is over and you can say it was well lived. Jenko was full of love and joy and he renewed that for Michael and me in our lives. We spent each of our days with him filled to the fullest. No regrets. I would pick him out of the litter and do it all over again.

From the beginning we had a desire for Jenko to become a therapy dog to bring joy and happiness to those most in need. What I have since realized is that he had that job from the beginning, he was a therapy dog, and he did his job well as Michael and I needed all that he shared.

There is no statement that sums up our sorrow. However, there are eight months worth of memories and photos to ease the pain. If given the chance we have agreed we would do it all again. We both just hope that Jenko?s Rainbow Bridge is filled with as many Frisbees as his little heart desires!