Jeff in New Orleans, the photo used to create the iconic sticker and T-shirt

We adopted Jeff from Austin’s Town Lake Animal Center in early 2008.

I don’t know what month he was born in 2007, but he’s definitely nearing in on 15. When people ask his age, I just tell them 15 now. He’s earned it.

He’s lived with us all over Austin and in Horseshoe Bay, San Antonio and New Orleans. He also lived with my parents in Leander for a bit while we were in New York and New Orleans.

He’s kind and curious and has never attacked another dog or person, despite having scars from mean dogs at dog parks. He aggressively sniffs new dog friends. He’s welcomed tolerated our bringing six other dogs into the household during his lifetime.

He loves going for car rides, hanging out at coffee shops and by turns sleeping and people-/animal-/car-watching.

In 2015, his bladder exploded. After emergency surgery and a hospital stay, he fully recovered. In 2017, he had a mast cell tumor removed from his leg.

In early February 2022, we learned Jeff has thyroid cancer — most noticeable by the large lump on his neck as if he had an engorged Adam’s apple.

Previous Writings about Jeff

He’s also started freaking out at night with what seems like extreme anxiety attacks, likely due to the pain and cognitive decline (doggy dementia).

It’s clear our time to say goodbye to Jeff is rapidly approaching. I’d hoped not to have to make the choice to help him along, but unless the increase in medication dosages we’re trying calm him, I’m afraid I will.

Many people have fallen in love with Jeff. Quite a few have stickers of him on their laptops. Some folks even have T-shirts with his face on them. At least one person has asked for more pictures of him. So, I’m posting a bunch of him below for posterity.

If you didn’t get to meet Jeff, you missed out on a great guy.

Pictures of Jeff [image error] One time, a woman pulled up next to us and complimented Jeff on his smile at a stoplight. [image error]