You can go from playing with your dog one moment to suddenly feeling worried the next. It happens in an instant.
That was exactly how Susan and Gene Jaworowski felt when their dog, Bessie Smith, suddenly seemed lifeless.
At first, the couple thought they might have overexercised her, or that she had a weak heart.
No one guessed the truth behind Bessie’s behavior.
Meet Bessie, The Border Collie With A Personality
It was a beautiful day at the lake near their Fort Collins, Colorado home. Gene and Susan took Bessie out for a fun outing.
No, not the famous jazz musician. Their Bessie is a Border Collie mix, born to a purebred Border Collie mom and an unknown father.
Bessie and her littermates were all named after jazz legends and adopted from Bounce Animal Rescue Fort Collins several years ago.
When Gene and Susan brought Bessie home at six weeks old, she was a tiny puppy. They raised her with love, and she grew into an energetic, joyful dog.
Like many Border Collies, Bessie loved to show off her athletic abilities. She adored the outdoors, and her playful personality kept the couple smiling every day.
Living near the lake gave them the perfect spot for walks and exercise, and Bessie loved every moment. If she could speak, she would have said she never wanted to leave.
Soon, that desire became a concern. Gene and Susan noticed Bessie barely moved when it was time to leave. She grew so exhausted that they feared something was wrong.
“During her second year with us she was dragging her feet up the hill to the car after an hour of retrieving sticks in the water, and after a few days of her doing this, we thought maybe we were overdoing this exercise with her and she may have a bad heart,” said Jaworowski for Newsweek.
No wonder Gene and Susan were worried. Heart problems can affect dogs of any breed and at any stage of their lives, so their concern was very real.
They quickly rushed Bessie to the vet, where a series of thorough tests were performed on their sweet girl. Everyone held their breath, saying silent prayers, wondering if this could be the end of their joyful time with Bessie.
When the results arrived, the couple felt a mix of relief, surprise, and a little embarrassment.
After all the worry and drama, they discovered there was absolutely nothing wrong with her. According to the vet, Bessie was as healthy as could be, with a perfect heart and no signs of illness.
So why did she lose energy whenever it was time to leave the lake? The answer was surprisingly simple: Bessie just didn’t want to go home.
All that dragging of her paws and apparent exhaustion was not illness at all—it was a clear act of protest. She was signaling her strong desire to stay longer, to enjoy more time by the water.
Oh, Bessie, if only you could have told your humans you weren’t ready to leave!
Now, who’s going to reimburse Gene and Susan for the $150 in vet bills for nothing?