COCKER SPANIEL RESCUE OF EAST TEXAS - HOUSTON

From the beginning, Jenny has been happy, wagging her tail and loving life. She has never let on that she feels bad. Jenny's foster mom said she could live out her life at the Cocker Inn. Since December, Jenny has celebrated the holidays, played with her cocker siblings, chased squirrels and birds, napped in the sunshine, enjoyed laps and hugs, and of course, cocker treats.

In early March 2012, Jenny's foster mom came home to find blood on the floor. The cancer metastasized into her right nasal cavity. Thinking her time had come, they made a last trip to the vet. Yet, miraculously, Jenny, with her undying spirit, demonstrated she was not ready to go to Rainbow Bridge. Under veterinarian recommendation and mom's watchful eye, Jenny returned to the Cocker Inn.

We know Jenny's time is limited. To celebrate her spirit and her life, several of the CSR volunteers put their heads together and thought of ten things that Jenny ought to get to do while she still felt well enough to do them. Thus was created Jenny's Bucket List. Some of the items were going to be easy and frankly we had no idea how we would do some of them. On May 6, Jenny got to chase the first fetch during an Astros pre-game event, checking off the last item on her list.

1. Visit NASA and meet an astronaut
2. Throw out the first ball at an Astros game
3. Do the weather with a local newscaster
4. Be featured in Ken Hoffman's column
5. Celebrate Texas Independence by riding the elevator to the top of the San Jacinto Monument
6. Spa day at Lone Star Pet Lodges with a Frosty Paw treat and new bone
7. Ride the ferry at Galveston, play in the waves, tour Haak Winery and Vineyard in Santa Fe
8. Dinner on the deck at Beck's Prime with my own hamburger
9. Ride in a Jag with the top down to Starbucks for a doggie latte
10. Have a picture made in the bluebonnets

And a bucket bonuses! First, Blake Hayes at KHMX, Mix 96-5, invited Jenny to their studios and gave her an opportunity to tour the station and be interviewed on the radio. Next, Houston area artist Frances Moore was so moved by Ken Hoffman's article, she painted a portrait of Jenny and gave it to Jenny's foster mom.

The response to Jenny has been incredible! Jenny recieved well wishes from so many people and Jenny has gotten so much support for checking off all the items on her bucket list. When we first conceived of Jenny's bucket list we weren't sure how we were going to get all of them done. To think that in less than a month Jenny has checked off 9 of 10 items is simply astounding. We weren't sure if Jenny would still be with us for baseball season in order to get the 10th, but she hung in there and led the dog parade at Minute Maid Park. The greater Houston area is an incredible place to live and its people are the best. We especially thank Ken Hoffman and the Houston Chronicle; Casey Curry and Channel 13; Blake Hayes and Mix 96-5; Astronaut Mike Foreman, Roger Borenstein and NASA / JSC; Beck's Prime; Starbucks; The Houston Astros, Lone Star Pet Lodges; The San Jacinto Museum of History Association; and all the Cocker Spaniel Rescue of East Texas volunteers who have spent their time and energy taking Jenny to her various appointments. Jenny's story has touched so many people, and we've gotten so many emails of support. It's been amazing.

Checking off the bucket list items has been a wonderful experience for Jenny and the people who have helped her with her list. Like most cocker spaniels, she got excited at the mention of "go" and she really enjoyed the trips, the attention, the treats (especially the treats), and making friends everywhere she goes. Even meeting a Chick-fil-a cow.

On November 4, 2012, surrounded by friends and loving CSRET volunteers, Jenny lost her heroic fight and crossed to the Rainbow Bridge. Our grief is tempered by the knowledge that Jenny lived far beyond the expectations and she was happy and without pain right up to her last hours. Jenny has been an inspiration, and she will be missed.