July 20, 2002
Jessa-Bell was a 4.5 yr. Black Lab who came to us from LILRR in 1996. The only history on Jess was that she was rescued from the Islip pound and at a Rescue foster home for about 8 months. During a visit to meet the rescued Labs living with a volunteer foster home not far from our town, Jess took our hearts. In our mind, no one could replace Mindy, our former Lab that we lost at 14 years, but BOY were we wrong!
Jess came to us on Columbus Day 1996 with a Tennis Ball in her mouth - from day one, that became her trademark - she would carry it all over ... only drop it to eat or drink ... it was play ball all day. She loved the car, boat, beach & walks. She would always carry her ball, looking to play. She got along great with Penny, our Dobie who later passed away at 14 years, then Jess welcomed a new 1.5 year old Lab, "Chelsea". Chelsea had been hit by a car and taken to the Riverhead pound, where we rescued her when no one claimed her.
Jess's only 'enemy' was the lawn sprinkler, which was under daily attack. The only real 'crime' Jesse ever committed was to steal a tennis ball off a trailer hitch during an afternoon walk.
Mom is on call with the local police and our phone rings all hours of the night. Jess would wake up with the ring, go sit by the door and ride side by side to headquarters. Jess broke Chelsea in on the job ... now it's Chelsea's job.
Mom underwent a bout with cancer and Jess went every day for the car ride while she underwent radiation. After radiation treatments, Mom was very tired and would rest - Jess and Chelsea always by her side. Mom had a mark on her back where the radiation was beamed into - Jess and Chelsea would both sniff and kiss that mark, as if to know where exactly the cancer was.
Jess brought so much love into our home that words cannot express. We recently lost Jesse to Liver Cancer at 10.5 years of age.
We would like to thank LILRR for all the love and laughs Jess gave us.
If you see a tennis ball fall from Heaven, it's Jesse's.
Phil & Zyta