Jasper was the very first pet that Pravitra Jeyaratnam and her family welcomed into their home apart from the fish that lived in their aquarium.

A playful golden retriever, Jasper revelled in the continuous stream of praises bestowed upon him and was an intelligent little chap.

“His eyes had a knowing and thoughtful look. He was always brave, except when it came to the vacuum cleaner, which would ensure his swift departure from the room,” Pravitra says.

He was a happy dog and towards his older years, outsiders would remark at how calm he was and wish their dogs were more like him.

“His zen-like demeanour didn’t stop him from getting jealous though, particularly towards inanimate objects.

“We often saw him running off with a new dress my mother was sewing, or a rose plant we had just bought clenched between his teeth. He would dump these in the garden as if to say, ‘If I don’t get your attention, nothing else can!’”

Jasper also loved to run – run away from the family, that is!

“He would dash out the gate at the slightest chance. I think he enjoyed leaving us in the dust as he explored the plants and snooty street cats in our area.”

He grew to love car rides as he got older. “I would come home from work and he would be at the ready to get into my car, the towel to line his seat already in his mouth.

“We’ve spent countless evenings cruising the streets like a neighbourhood watch crew. He would be in the backseat, head out of the window, enjoying the breeze through his long golden hair,” Pravitra remembers.

“It would be funny when other animals going for walks with their owners would see our fancy dog in his carriage, barking to let them know he was there. We could go on driving for nearly an hour each time.

“The memories of those evenings are what I’ll always cherish. I still catch myself automatically looking at the rear-view mirror as if he were there in the backseat, looking intently out the window.”

Jasper had many soft toys but the tiger plush remained his constant companion. “I use the term companion loosely; he did lose a leg to Jasper. When he passed, we cremated him with that three-legged feline friend of his,” Pravitra says.

Like many golden retrievers, Jasper enjoyed playing in pools of water after a heavy rain, especially when he was a pup. Bath times however, even as an older dog, were a constant struggle.

“So, we sent him to the groomers. We would often be met with a look of displeasure when we went to collect him, followed by a couple of hours of him ignoring us before he needed us again and returned to normal,” Pravitra says.

She adds that Jasper was smart and quickly picked up basic tricks. “Food was always a good incentive for 100% compliance from him.”

Unlike some dogs who like sleeping on beds, Jasper liked the cool floor tiles. “He did seem to know when the air-conditioning was on though, and would paw at the door or bark to let you know you should open the door for him.”

Sadly, Pravitra found out Jasper’s time was limited in October last year.

“He suddenly lost control of his limbs and dropped as he was running for his meal. We rushed him to Gasing Vet Hospital and they diagnosed him with hemangiosarcoma, a common type of cancer in golden retrievers,” Pravitra says.

Jasper underwent surgery but the family was told that the growths would keep recurring. The vet gave him another year.

“Unfortunately, two days before Christmas, he relapsed, and a scan at the vet told us that one year was a little too optimistic. The vet gave us an honest timeline of up till Chinese New Year 2021.”

The following few weeks were tough. Pravitra says there were days where Jasper was still excited about his food and going on car rides. “And then there were moments we thought were the end. It broke me to see him slipping away,” she says.

“Finally, two days before Chinese New Year, our boy left us for good. It happened right in front of me; I’ll forever remember that sight. My family and I sat there and held his paw, distraught, but sending him off with thoughts of love and light; that was the least we could do for all he had given us.

“If you have ever let a dog into your heart, you’d know the feeling of being unconditionally loved. It can heal your wounds, make you feel almost whole, but can also break you once that source of strength is gone.”

Though she did not have Jasper as long as she wanted, Pravitra says she and her family were truly blessed to have had him for eleven and a half years. “My sister calls him our Mary Poppins. He is gone now, but he will never be forgotten.”

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathery friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.