11/05/2025
One Year Without Jacky
A little over a year ago, I said farewell to Jack — a Brazilian Terrier who brought immeasurable joy, companionship, and wisdom into my life.
Jack was not planned. I had walked into a pet store to buy a bed for our Flat-Coated Retriever puppy, Kobe. But there, in one of the glass enclosures, was a small, scrawny puppy — bored, restless, and clearly overlooked. He was terrorizing the other puppies just out of sheer frustration, and that’s what drew my attention. At 5 months old, he was still waiting to be chosen. When the shop assistant let him out, he dashed around uncontrollably. When I finally held him, I knew without hesitation — he was not going back into that enclosure.
He came home with us that day. Although sold as a Jack Russell with pedigree papers, I later recognized his true breed: a Brazilian Terrier — elegant, agile, and full of character.
Jack refused to eat the small-breed kibble he was given. Instead, he gravitated toward Kobe’s food. Despite early warnings that his paws would grow to monstrous proportions, his health remained excellent — and his paws stayed dainty. Though he did suffer from respiratory issues and recurring bile vomiting throughout his early years.
Everything changed when I introduced Jack to the BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet. The improvement was immediate and undeniable: his vomiting stopped, his breathing stabilized, his coat grew shinier, and his energy returned.
Jack was one of the earliest beneficiaries of what would later become CHOPS — our raw food line. He, along with my other dogs, helped shape its development.
He lived nearly 16 spirited years. Though his hearing and sight faded, he never lost his dignity, energy, or his place as leader of the pack.
Today, Jack remains more than a memory. He is part of the foundation on which CHOPS was built — a reminder that when we honor nature and listen to our animals, transformation is possible.
Thank you, Jackudu. For your loyalty. For your lessons. For helping me do better. Forever in my heart. Forever part of CHOPS.
