Rascal Tavener

RASCAL.

A befitting name for a Jack Russell Terrier. A name that carries with it intentions of curiosity, trouble, and energy. Rascal had all these qualities. From the beginning moments where he would climb inside a plastic coat hanger to chew it to pieces, to the final days of seeking out any human food that he could get his paws on, he certainly was a rascal. He was too smart for his own good – he was a con artist, and he was sneaky. If you scolded him too harshly for the trouble that he got himself into, you’d be sure to have a surprise waiting outside your bedroom door at 4 AM in the perfect spot for your bare foot to land. He’d be watching and ready to make a move on anything delicious unattended for just a moment of time. He would talk up quite a game across the fence from the Golden Retriever that was quadruple his size. He once found a way under the fence to go visit this Retriever that he’d been so furiously barking at, only to sit in deaf silence absolutely petrified of what the larger dog could do to him (we love you, Archie). In the summertime, his favorite thing was the sun. He would sit in the sun on a 95-degree day, tongue out, panting, overheated, and he would not have had it any other way. We’d have to force him to drink from the water bowl and keep him cool with an ice cube down the back of his neck. He loved to play; he’d chase the frisbee while we played Kan-Jam, he’d fetch his favorite ball, and he loved a good tug-of-war with his chewing rope. He loved to meet new people after passing the sniff-test, especially children. Rascal would be ecstatic to see nearly anybody visiting our home. He had all the classic good-boy traits, but that was only the surface of what Rascal was. Rascal had a personality befitting a human. He had emotions just like you and me. These emotions were more plainly visible on Rascal’s face than some people I know. He had moments of anger, sadness, excitement, and scaredness. He would put these emotions on display not dissimilar to a high-school drama queen at times. Emotions ran so high for Rascal that he could likely have his own successful sitcom. His bestie was a dog named Lola, his lover was a girl named Tiffany, and his arch nemesis was any intruder on the property, people and animals alike. Ben was the father figure that brought discipline, and his mother Emma had a special, unbreakable bond with Rascal from the moment he arrived home. He and Emma grew up together. Rascal was there for more than half of Emma’s life. They were there for each other through their best and worst times. He was a lover – someone whose ability to console others in times of darkness could exceed any mortal human. He had a sixth sense - the ability to detect stress and sadness in people who needed him the most. In times where nobody needed any consolation, he’d be there to snuggle, keep you warm, and provide the ultimate feeling of companionship. Emma knew this better than anyone else; the two of them were nearly inseparable at home. Through thick and thin, they were in this together. Rascal will remain in the hearts of those who had the fortune of meeting him forever. Trying to explain Rascal to others is a nigh-impossible task. Just like a person that you hear legends of, famous and infamous alike, Rascal was a dog of the legends. He saw more of this country than most people in the US would in their lives, and even spent a part of his life living in the Rockies. Car trips were always stressful for Rascal, but he still wouldn’t back down from protecting his family from the tractor trailers that were passing nearby. Rascal was a member of the family that you interacted with every day. Just like we taught him tricks and habits, he taught us habits as well. These habits will follow all of us for the rest of our lives. Just as a best friend helps mold you to be the person you’ve become, Rascal had an unbelievable influence on the people around him. He was excellent at teaching patience, humility, and grace. Anyone that met him knows these feelings all too well. With his passing, it is difficult to reflect what a profound impact he’s had on the world around us. The memories that he has given us will last a lifetime. Rascal was a great dog. We gave him a house to live in the day we brought him home from the shelter, and he made that house a home for all of us. We’ll miss you every day. Thank you for the wonderful 13 years you brought us. We love you, buddy. A. Tavener 08/15/24

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