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Java

My sister's dog, Java, passed away today. He was a good puppy.

Actually, he wasn't exactly a puppy. Java was 15 years old. Bull Terriers usually only live about 10 years, so he was an old man. Java had a great life. He brought joy and companionship to my sister and her husband and kids. I never lived close to my sister during the past 15 years, but I visited often, and I loved that dog.

Bull terriers are built like Mack trucks. Heads as hard as cinder blocks, they are gentle, good with kids, and great pets. Despite their fierce appearance, they are kittens as long as you get them from a reputable breeder and train them correctly. They come in a variety of colors. Java was black on white.

He was a real character:

• One time while visiting my sister and family in Boston, I saw Java in the back room where my brother-in-law keeps his tools. I noticed Java chewing on something, as dogs are wont to do. My brother-in-law used to say that Java was not the 'sharpest tool in the shed'. He may have been on to something. I told Java to drop what was in his mouth, but he refused. So, I reached into his mouth to find that he was chewing on a metal bolt. The dog used to chew on rocks in the back yard. How can you not smile at that?
• Java liked to go to the park so much that we used to have to spell out the word 'park' when he was around, so he wouldn't get too excited. My sister told me a story that one day they found Java missing from the yard. After searching the neighborhood, my brother-in-law went to the park to see if he was there. Java would get loose sometimes and go to the park. After the dog was missing for some time, my brother-in-law went to the police station to see if anybody had reported a loose dog in the area. The police said, 'so you're the owner'. Java was in a holding cell...the police were afraid of him! As my brother-in-law approached the cell, he found Java drinking from the toilet. We learned later that Java got lost on the way to the park and wound up downtown, causing a traffic jam. A little old lady stopped her car and opened the door. Java jumped right in. The old lady wasn't afraid of him, but the police were! The lady dropped him off at the police station, and he was released to my brother-in-law's custody with time off for good behavior.
• A watch dog, Java was not. My mother was visiting my sister once, and my mom didn't realize that there was a repair man in the house. The man startled my mom as he walked into the kitchen from the garage, but Java, asleep on the floor, didn't budge. In fact, the repair man had to step over him.
• Java was a gentle soul. One day my sister walked into the den to find her new kitten sitting on Java's favorite chair and Java on the floor. My sis chastised the cat and Java. She didn't want the cat to think she was the alpha animal. So, the cat was taken down from the chair, and Java was returned to his throne. After a little while, my sister returned to the den to find the kitten sharing the chair with Java. The dog was such a good boy.
• My favorite Java story was told to me by my brother-in-law. Java and my sister's husband went to the field to get some exercise. When he was free of his leash, Java took off in a straight line, running as fast as he could. He kept running until he was lost in the fog. As my brother-in-law caught up with the dog, he saw a bunch of teenagers kicking a soccer ball around. He yelled for them to pick up the ball because if Java got a hold of it, he would pop it. The teens responded that they were too good for the dog to get the ball away from them. My sister's husband said, with a knowing smile, 'don't blame me if he pops the ball. I'm not buying you a new one.' Little did the soccer players know that bull terriers were bred as 'ratters', dogs that would catch rats in barns. They can catch anything that moves. Yup, Java stole the ball away from the teens, chomped down with his massive jaws, and 'POP!'. "My ball!," yelled one of the guys. Told you so. Good going Java!

I'm sure that Java is in heaven, running as fast as he can on a field that never ends. He was a good friend. He will be missed.