Zara Rose Jarvis

Zara passed away today October 13th. She was 16.5 years old.
We got her off of Craigslist after only seeing one pixelated image and set up a time to meet her. She was owned by two college aged girls, and they told us she loved to play with fish shaped chew toys meant for cats. Me and my mom took her home in the minivan with me holding her in the backseat still in a booster seat. I remember the first summer with her when she didn't need a leash in the backyard because she would just run around at my ankles wherever I went. She lived with our lab Daisy too until around 2016. Zara slept in my bed every night, she was very hyper vigilant and guarded me fiercely. She never slept near my head, only at my feet in order to see the door. If it got cold, she would crawl under the blankets and sleep behind my knees. I rarely saw her eyes closed when she was little, because she would wake up at any movement. Every night before she walked to the end of the bed, she would come and say goodnight by leaning on my chest and asking for belly rubs. I kissed her cheeks so often that eventually all I had to do was make a kissing face and she would turn her cheek automatically. I would tell her about my day, how much I loved her and that even if I'm not there, I still love her everyday. She loved her squeaky toys bigger than her, soft blankets, and looking out the window. She hated visitors and men, and she loved to sit in my lap even at the table or desk.
Some people didn't like her and called her a rat. (I hope you have fun when you can't find your matching sock, because she's gonna haunt you now.) She didn't like men and you had to be very patient to win her trust. A lot of people don't like outspoken women (barking and biting men's ankles), and maybe if Zara did that to you, it was life teaching you a lesson.
Some people might think I'm being dramatic and she was just a dog, but she was my family that I grew up with, and we understood each other very deeply. Loving animals is a powerful thing, and I'd like you to take time to think about the animals you love, and why you love them. It's important to remember all animals can build bonds, feel feelings, and deserve to live. So maybe tonight you can skip the burger and save one cow, just like you would do anything to save your dog.
-This website supports a no kill shelter in Brooklyn, if you'd like the leave a donation it will go straight there.
-I think there should be a space to comment below your favorite moments with Zara