Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life diminished.

It what has been a tumultuous month or so, I finally had to say goodbye to my best friend last week. A tumour that had cropped up on her neck was surgically removed but caused post surgery complications and eventually she succumbed. She was only 12 years and 9 months old but crammed a lot into her short life.

Our girl Jada, was our family pet, growing up with two teenage children and being adored by both of them and their friends. She was the constant in our lives and even accompanied my husband and I on our seven month caravan trip around Australia. I have such wonderful memories of her running free on long stretches of sandy beaches, getting covered in red dirt in The Pilbara, swimming far out into the sea and sitting patiently whilst we stopped for coffee in towns along the way. Jada was the perfect travel companion!

Recent photos of Jada with our new puppy Stella

She lived a full life with plenty of walks, romps in the surf, stick retrieving, sniffing trees, reclining on the grass, devouring juicy bones and occasional treats, drives in the car and lots of pats and back massages.

In memory of my beautiful girl and our travels around Australia I have prepared a collage of our adventures with her. She had a hell of a time and hope she is looking down on us from doggie heaven and remembering these sweet times.

Running Free on The Beach Somewhere in Australia

Jada running free on beaches at Robe SA, Exmouth WA & Duke of Orleans Bay, Esperance WA

Jada was an excellent swimmer and she loved to jump through the small waves in the shore break and even sometimes took on some big waves.

Swimming in Waterways Across Australia

Jada swimming at Coral Bay WA, Port Lincoln SA, Lowlands Beach WA & Eden NSW

Like all dogs she loved exploring new places and sticking her nose into every nook and cranny.

Exploring our Wide Brown Land

Jada exploring her surrounds at Dalmeny NSW, Cosy Corner Beach, Albany WA, Quondong, Cape Leveque WA and Caves Beach NSW.

Sometimes her expeditions took her into black muddy creeks or she rolled in russet red dirt.

Jada getting dirty in The Pilbara WA & in a creek somewhere in South West Australia

She also enjoyed many long walks and hikes over all sorts of different terrain.

Talking Walks and Hikes Over All Types of Terrain

Jada on one of her many walks at Esperance WA, Monkey Mia WA, Great Ocean Trail, Johanna Vic and

We always found it difficult to get Jada to pose for a photo sometimes as she would turn her head the other way.

Striking a Pose

Jada modelling for us at Perry Creek, Wyndham WA, Cable Beach WA, Coffin Bay SA and in The Pilbara WA

Of course we snapped photos of Jada in strategic locations all over Australia for her Instagram page #JauntingJada.

Jaunting Jada The Celebrity Instagrammer

Jada on location at Elliston coastal cliffs on the Eyre Peninsula SA, at the rocks at Warden Head Lighthouse at Ulladulla NSW on the jetty at Narrung at Lake Alexandrina SA, at the Prison Tree, Derby WA

Jada on The Nullarbor Plain SA, at Portland Vic, Port Macquarie NSW and on the jetty at Georges Basin NSW

Jada – Always By Our Side

Jada at Vlamingh Head Lighthouse, Exmouth WA, Great Ocean Road Vic, Margaret River WA and Lake Macquarie NSW

At the end of a long exhausting day travelling, swimming, walking and exploring Jada would just slump in a heap at our feet wherever we were. She was a girl that knew how to chillax.

Jada – Relaxing

Jada at Mallacoota Vic, on the beach at Duke of Orleans Bay WA, Honeymoon Bay, Wyndham WA and Lakes Entrance Vic

She was always friendly and amicable and made friends wherever she went.

Jada Making Friends in New Places

Jada with aboriginal children at Derby WA and with the famous Red Dog at Dampier WA

Words cannot express the grief and emptiness that I feel every morning when I walk out into our backyard to find her not there anymore. Every time I walk to Burleigh Headland, where she loved to sit and watch the world go by, I feel a pang of sadness. Even though we got a replacement in the form of a new puppy five months ago to keep our old girl company, it is not the same as seeing the beautiful adoring face of our precious old Lab. She was one in a million.

You lived a full and happy life old friend. May you rest in peace forever more.