As Jacquie Clarke prepares herself for this interview at her comfortable St Philip home, a small presence makes himself known by jumping on his special chair and looking inquisitively into my eyes.
It’s as though he knows that he will be the hot topic of conversation and he doesn’t want to miss a thing.
This is a story of a woman who spared no effort at all, even when times got rough and a lot of travel was involved, to be with her best friend Spiike, a Miniature Pinscher.
It begins in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, when Jacquie, who works for an offshore company, went there in 2012 to site train staff at the new contact centre that was opening.
From the outset, Jacquie knew that life in Honduras would be different not just in terms of it being a Spanish-speaking country, but also due to the level of crime, which meant restrictions being placed on her personal freedom.
She had to live in a gated community that was protected by two armed guards, and surrounded by a 12-foot guard wall with barbed wire. The real threat of kidnapping meant she also had to be escorted to and from work by an armed personal bodyguard. The bodyguard also had to accompany her on social outings.
Jacquie, who likes to walk as part of her fitness programme, was advised to walk within the parameters of the community. This obviously placed more restrictions on her ability to experience the true culture of Honduras. Still, Jacquie set about embracing her new life.
“I really enjoyed being there and found the people to be generous and kind.”
Jacquie adjusted to her new life, but was homesick and missed her German husband Andre, who had stayed in Barbados to finish building their home. Though they flew back and forth to see each other every few months, Jacquie was lonely in Honduras and, after speaking with Andre, decided to obtain a companion dog to ease the loneliness.
“When I decided to get a dog, I did some research into the breed that would suit my lifestyle,” she recalled. This research led to her choosing the Miniature Pinscher, a small, hardy, watchdog that is intelligent, brave and loyal. But as they can be quite lively, she was advised that this breed was not suitable for first-time dog owners. Undeterred, Jacquie made some initial enquiries. “I was prepared to take on the challenge,” she said, laughing.
Jacquie began by asking work colleagues if they knew of any breeders. Suggestions were made to contact pet shops and to even search the streets for any strays.
One pet shop owner said he knew of a breeder but that the Miniature Pinschers would not be ready for several months. Her boss, however, knew of a breeder in Guatemala, whose puppies were ready to go to new homes, so Jacquie prepared to travel there, for her Min Pin, as they are affectionately known. But as luck would have it, just before Jacquie made the journey to Guatemala, her boss told her about a lady who had six dogs and was looking to re-home two of them, one of which was an adult male Min Pin. Jacquie spoke with her and a date was set for the Min Pin to be brought to her apartment.
At the first meeting, Jacquie’s Min Pin was trembling and Jacquie wondered if she had made the right decision. But determined to give things a try, she decided to keep him and went to the pet shop to get him “fitted out” with toys, treats, food bowls and his collar and leash.
She renamed the dog Spiike with two i’s and set about settling him in. It took only about three days for Spiike to settle into his new home. But as he originated from a home where other dogs had been present, when Jacquie was at work she sometimes placed him in a dog day care centre, “so that he could have interaction with other dogs and not become lonely”.
Spiike also went on regular walks and quickly became the sweetheart of the neighbourhood.
“Children especially loved him,” she recalls fondly. Spiike also helped Jacquie to make friends, as he was a focal talking point among the residents. Jacquie’s bodyguard also became acquainted with Spiike, as he (fully armed) escorted them on their mountain treks.
As the weeks passed and they bonded, Jacquie knew the right decision had been made, so she began to look into how to transport Spiike to Barbados after her stint in Honduras. Jacquie realised it would be costly at US$8 000, but she was “120 per cent committed and determined she was not leaving Spiike behind”.
Jacquie recalls the time of her return to Barbados as “the most stressful time in my life, due to the logistics”. There was a mountain of paperwork and forms to be filled out. Spiike had to take a blood test for rabies, and a vial of the serum had to be sent by special delivery to Kansas University for testing. Spiike also had to be micro-chipped, and given a clean bill of health by a vet before he could travel.
Jacquie was due back in Barbados in June 2013, but the process with Spiike was long (four months in all), so in the interim her employers sent her to Iowa for a short period. Spiike was able to travel to the United States and flew from San Pedro Sula to Miami, then to Chicago, where he stayed at the “pet-friendly” Hilton and eventually on to Moline in Iowa with Jacquie.
Once Jacquie’s work assignment was concluded, it was time for her to return to Barbados. She had to part company with Spiike, albeit temporarily, as he could not fly directly to Bim. Instead, Spiike had to fly from Miami to the United Kingdom, where he spent three nights kennelled at Heathrow Airport.
Spiike then flew with Virgin Atlantic to Grantley Adams International Airport. On arrival he was seen by the vet and clearance was given. His paperwork was checked with immigration and at last, in October 2013, Jacquie was reunited with Spiike.
Spiike has settled well into his new life in Barbados, and enjoys his walks to the beach and barking at the neighbourhood dogs en route. He also likes to bark at the Transport Board buses as they drive past. Andre put a flap in the kitchen door, which allows Spiike to enter the house from the garden if the door is shut, and he loves running in and out. Spiike has his own special dog bed in which he sleeps and a special armchair to lounge on and even a hoodie, which Jacquie says he loves posing in.
He has a Harley Davidson dog collar and when Jacquie goes for it, Spiike knows that it is his walk-time. He has a hearty appetite and particularly loves cheese, biscuits, and tuna with potatoes.
But as Miniature Pinschers have a tendency to gain weight easily, Jacquie is careful with his diet. Jacquie and Andre love Spiike and both say they just couldn’t imagine life without him.
