"Please, Sir, I want some more."

Three or four months before Shadow died we acquired a purebred Jack Russell as a companion for him. As stated elsewhere, Shadow was very tolerant of other animals. He was very secure and never exhibited a need to dominate or control in an excessively aggressive way. He KNEW he was top dog and was not easily threatened.

As is common with terriers and human ignorance, a Jack Russell puppy was purchased from a Pet Depot for a 6-year-old boy. As it further turned out, the family was in crisis about the same time the dog arrived. Violence may have been an issue, the family fell apart, and a high strung terrier was not a good fit for a family going through divorce.

After being placed with a teacher who worked with ADHD children found that she hadn't the energy or patience for an ADHD pup after a long day, I was contacted. Despite being a puppy mill pup, Jake was an intelligent and beautiful creature though "over-the-top" energy charged. All the same he became a part of the family.

Shadow let Jake know who was boss and after an initial scuffle or two these dogs got along well, despite the fact that they were both male. Jake had some people issues though. He was very protective of "his" family. We tend to have lots of guests, but learned the little Jack Russell was not a party animal. More than 8 or 9 people and he would get stressed out. He's look around as if to say "How am I to maintain order and protect you from ALL these intruders." When someone would leave he'd growl and bark as folks hugged each other goodbye. It was as if he believed someone was being attacked.

We coped with Jake's idiosyncrasies for over 4 years. After Shadow's death, he and Sweetie adjusted to each other to some degree. They both tended to be high strung and were more likely to scuffle than Shadow, but for the most part got along. That was UNTIL the puppies came.

Jake could neither understand what puppies were nor adjust to so many animals on his turf. IT was just more than his tightly wound nervous system could cope with. Though very attached to him, I had to find Jake a new home, one where he would be the "only dog." At this writing he belongs to a young woman who shares a house with five others. Jake got to be top dog to a group of young adults who spoil him rotten. I doubt he uses his crate much at all anymore. The last I heard he took turns keeping everyone's feet warm on the couch and was learning the benefits taking people for a walk rather then being let out to run in our big yard.

"Did I hear you correctly?"

In November of 2003, I received an e-mail sent out by Winnie Stout. Terrier lovers were put on alert. 32 wire fox terriers had been seized in Virginia. All were in need of homes "asap" since their numbers were putting a huge drain on the county budget.

Since putting two boys in college and homeschooling only one daughter, it occurred to me that I actually could jump in my van and drive to Virginia to help. First time in decades that I felt I was free enough to do such an impulsive thing. Called my mother who agreed to ride along, and we were off.

What a trip. We encountered about an hour and a half of rain and heavy fog closely followed by an accident that brought traffic to a near stand still for another hour and a half. All the same we found a great hotel and had a wonderful meal. Next morning, I met Deputy Johnson and several other potential rescue home folks at the kennel.

Wow, what a sight and the noise level was off the charts. These dogs were shaggy, dirty, and extremely thin. Many were dog aggressive as a result of horrible living conditions. After repeated attempts to find a pair of compatible wires, I settled on one desperately frightened girl.

Rosie crawled along the ground. Barely lifted her head and shied away from all contact. She even had scars on her chest, from fights with other dogs I believe.

(I so wish I had the forethought to take a picture of her the first night at home with us, but I got so caught up in cleaning her up and getting her to eat that I dismised the thought.)

Over the course of a few weeks, Rosie revealed herself to be a wild, fun loving, people-person terrier. She easily walked on her back legs across my large kitchen. The living room became an obstacles course as she would leap from floor to chair, to couch, to table as she assumed a fully airborne posture. Her greatest fear, however, remained other dogs.

Rosie feared any and every dog that crossed her path. Nothing I could do altered the insecurity that drove her aggression towards others. Eventually I had to face the fact that she would never do well in our multi-dog home. This terrier girl needed a home all her own.

Oddly enough a retired couple that originally thought they wanted a calm beagle, came to take Rosie home for a trial stay. The husband stayed in the car saying this was his wife's dog; he wasn't getting involved. Ha! Within a week Rosie had him wrapped around her paw. For all her antics and eccentricities, Rosie was an endearing and entertaining creature. Soon she ruled the roost when Dad was home and was attending obedience classes with her new Mom.

"I like to sing!"

"Did I hear you correctly?"

Though never fully recovering from her fears, Rosie gained confidence being in a single dog home. She wasn't vigilantly and continuously on guard from the presence of other animals, so when she came to obedience class she had some emotional reserve built up. Initially Rosie was muzzled during class and just watched the others; over time, however, she ceased to crawl along the floor (a behavior relapse during the first few classes) or strike out at others. In the end she actually behaved and walked on a lead. No, she will never be the animal she might have been had she not been both neglected and abused, but Rosie has come a long way. She adds spark to the life of an older couple and they in turn have given her a measure of security and love her first couple years sorely lacked.