Obituaries

On July 23rd, 2021, Blackjack, beloved and loyal dog of the Garnett family, passed away at 14 years of age. He drifted to sleep peacefully, surrounded and held by those he loved, and who loved him dearly.

Blackjack was born on December 7th, 2006 somewhere near Valdosta, Georgia. A schnauzer/terrier mix, he was picked up by the local shelter shortly after his birth. Originally named “Mr. Wiggles” by the shelter, Blackjack was found by the Garnett family in spring 2007 and rechristened in a nod to his dark fur and how lucky we were to find him. I remember the first time I saw the new puppy, wriggling around in the grass of our backyard. He was so small and precious and full of life, and he came into our home exactly when we needed him. His excitement for his new family was exuberant, and we received him with open arms.

Blackjack had a love for exploring, rooting around, and getting into mischievous trouble. He loved dozing off in the sun and snooping around for bugs in the backyard, or sneaking around the house and poking his nose into closets and under beds. When he wasn’t patrolling the perimeter of our yard, he would lounge with one of his family members, enjoying as many pets and belly rubs as we could give him.

Even at a young age, Blackjack had silver whiskers, which stood out against his black fur. He had deep brown eyes and a cute, neat row of bottom teeth that would show when he smiled. One of the many familial nicknames he earned over the years was “Gibby”, which came in response to the way he sat like a Gibbon monkey with his hind legs spread wide underneath him, as well as to how he could find a way up onto the tables and countertops despite only standing as tall as our knees.

In his old age, Blackjack enjoyed a number of beach vacations and trips to doggy daycare out on a farm, where he befriended many dogs and even a horse. Although he began to experience complications with his health as he grew older, he was still as loving and sweet as ever. Blackjack was as wonderful a dog as we could have ever asked for; he will be severely missed and always loved in our hearts.

-Collin Garnett