Spotlight Success Story: Jackie

May 15, 2006	From Jackie Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you and you are enjoying spring. The good weather is here and we are all able to go outdoors...apparently not a moment too soon as Mom has that buggy look in her eye which means Go Outside and Play. There has been a lot of opportunity for that (playing) on account of the do-it-yourself landscaping going on around here. We've been joining in on the digging of holes in the garden and uprooting of things. I had a milestone and had my teeth cleaned -- now they are lovely and white. They must have needed cleaning before I got sick and before the kind people at Russell Rescue helped me, but it's been this long before I got the all-clear to go under anesthetic. So now my breath isn't stinky anymore. But what they don't know is it was my secret weapon so now I have to find another one. I had to have a few teeth pulled out too and now I can whistle through the gap. Or at least, I could, if I knew how to whistle. I keep up with my Valley Fever medication every day and am still doing great. I can jump across creeks now and run really fast, and the best thing is I can jump up in the air to grab a tennis ball. I still cry if anyone tries to touch my legs but I'm just playing mind games with them. Hehehehe. I went to visit Luis and Mary, my physical therapists, last week. It was just to say hi but I thought I'd help myself to the toys anyway...it's been over a year since I was there but I still remember where they keep them : ) I hope you are all having fun catching rodents and digging holes and swimming and getting to do what makes you happy. Lots of love, Jackie
December 24, 2005	From Jackie Hello everyone! I wish you an enjoyable and peaceful holiday season. Peaceful is the one thing it isn't around here as I have decided that it is time for me to pull my weight, and my weight being a whopping fourteen pounds, I have a lot to do. So far I've got vaccuuming and bed making figured out, and I'm working on home decorating. Vaccuuming is my favorite because it involves stealth and cunning, but bed making's pretty good too. I'm getting pretty good at jumping on the bed, if I have a running start, and I do so enjoy participating. Decorating takes more creativity, and, of course, raw material so I have to wait till something chewable is within my grasp. But, I've got patience. It's been pretty cold around here, so I've confined my activities to indoors. I think it would be nice if I lived in the goat barn and ate their grain and chased them all day, but so far no luck convincing anyone of that. We have a foot of snow here, and we all like to run around in it. I can easily keep up with Jimmy while he chases Izzy. She's much bigger than both of us, so she has to let us catch her. When she does, he bites her legs and I bark at them both, then she chases him, and I bark at them both. Maybe next time I should try biting her legs too and see what happens. I was planning on climbing up the tree this year to help put up the lights like Jimmy did last year, but it turns out that through amazing foresight, they never took them down from last year. Seems to have been the same plan as with the snow tires, so Mom's snow tires were on the car record early this winter. Next year I'm sure I will climb that tree. Happy Holidays to everyone! And safe travel too!
October 16	From Jackie Hello! I just wanted to let you know that everything is okay with me! And I hope everything is going well for all my friends out there too. I've been swimming and digging and getting muddy and catching frogs. See how muddy I am! I'm maintaining my weight, and my Valley Fever titer keeps going down -- the vet says this is good. We got some baby goats and I've been chasing them, except they are bigger than me even though they are dwarf goats, so sometimes they butt me with their hard little heads and then I run away. It is great fun. Sometimes we all run around in a big herd. Well, a big herd of seven. I am the littlest goat. The only thing they can do that I can't is jump onto the roof of their little house, but just wait! Happy Fall and Happy Holidays to everyone! love, Jackie
August 17	From Jackie Hello everyone! I know Mom just wrote an update, but she leaves important stuff out so I thought I better let you know what's really going on. I don't think she said enough about frogs, an area in which I am an expert. Also, I found a headless mouse the other day, and I don't think she mentioned that. When I fall in the pond, I just swim around and climb right back out and keep hunting. Sometimes I won't come in for dinner or during thunderstorms till they come and get me -- I'm not afraid of anything. Nope, nothing at all! I am FEARLESS! I even was able to jump on the bed a couple of weeks ago, although I haven't quite been able to do it again (yet). Usually I have to get lifted, and that's where Izzy and Jimmy jump when they want to get away from me, the stinkers, but it won't be long now. Another reason I wanted to write to you is because today is an important anniversary for me! This time last year I was in the hospital, sick, thin and paralyzed in the rear-end. Russell Rescue got me to the hospital to try to figure out why I was losing so much weight and muscle, and couldn't walk, and the wonderful people there at the hospital were making me feel loved and wanted, and working on getting me to eat. I never gave up hope, even when the specialists had diagnosed me with cancer after the MRI showed a large mass throughout my body, but I was very sad. But one of the specialists wanted to try one more test, and today is the day I got the great results that it was Valley Fever and there was medication that could help me! I started my medication that very day a year ago, and began to feel better right away -- in fact, a week later I stood by myself for a few seconds, and then I barked. Riff! I was aiming for more of a WOOF!! but gotta start somewhere. That was the start of my road back to being able to walk again, and run and play and hunt and now I can! I had a ton of therapy, which was actually became really fun after a while and which helped me get my muscles back. Many loving people gave me a lot of help and kept me in their thoughts, for which I am thankful. I can jump now, if I am running, and I'm working on my Vertical Take-off too. I believe it will be useful because, did I mention this?, I need to be able to jump on the bed by myself so that I can bug Jimmy and Izzy. Have a happy Labor Day holiday everyone! I know what holidays are now!! They are when we take off work to hunt frogs all day!
July 21	From Karen I wanted to let you know that Jackie continues to be happy and healthy -- full of energy, always up to something and enjoying the summer, which we hope everyone else is enjoying too. She is spending a lot of time hunting her natural prey, the frog. She's eating heartily and her weight seems to have balanced out at around 14lbs. She'll take any excuse to swim or wade in water, although chasing the tennis ball remains her favorite thing. She combines her hobbies by leaning far over the pond and dropping her tennis ball in the water, perhaps to draw the fish over to her to try to catch them. Surprisingly the fish all come over to see ... could she have convinced them that playing with a Jack Russell might be fun? She is still supplementing her own diet with a couple of stolen eggs a day, which she eats like a raccoon, clearly satisfied that she caught "dinner" herself. Sometimes she gets chased away by a hen who had other plans for the egg, and the other day she managed to aggravate the entire flock and was chased into the house, pursued by thirty brown hens (a sight to see). Although she is busy in her Day of Play, every twenty minutes or so it occurs to her that she should come in and check that no one is playing with her toys, or getting fed, or doing anything that might require her personal supervision, so she races in at top speed, does a fly-by of the house, and races out again. She is usually soaking wet, with mud knee socks and algae hanging from her mouth, but that doesn't seem to impair her speed (or, in her mind, her authority). She still has a little teeny bark like a squeaky toy, but has learned to add volume and enthusiasm and has mastered stealth barking, for she seems quiet and placid until all are unwary, then explodes into loud barks at the most unexpected moment, setting everyone else off too. This provides maximum doggy entertainment. I watched her the other day run across the paddock and jump high up in the air to catch a tennis ball -- clear daylight visible underneath her. Thank you to everyone who believed that something better was possible!
June 10	From Jackie Hello to everyone! I hope everyone is enjoying this summery weather and getting outdoors. I spend all the time I can outside these days and my day is quite full with my pond supervision duties. I have discovered that I can wade around and around in the big pond, and make my way through the cattails, and there's all sorts of stuff to chase...Just when I think I should take a break, a froggy surprise jumps in a few feet ahead of me then I have to go around the pond again...I caught a toad but he didn't taste good so I let him go. Everyone else laughed at me, but I bet they've all made that mistake. I'm still eating really well and am maintaining a good weight - I'm getting so much exercise now that I'm burning off the calories instead of putting on weight, but my weight is good so that's not a problem. I'm due for a vet checkup soon -- I like my vet....Jimmy is naughty at the vet, so I look extra good by comparison .... I suppose I shouldn't have told him that those special shiny pointy instruments the vet has are especially for Jack Russells. hehehe. It's getting a lot warmer here, and sometimes it breaks 85 and then everyone lays around and pants and says things like "It's not the heat, it's the humidity". Now, where I came from 110 is a cool day, so I get to make fun of THEM. We hope everyone who went to the big rescue trial last week had a lot of fun! It sounds like Patrick had a blast!
May 7	From Jackie Hello! Happy Spring everyone! I had a wonderful day yesterday - I fell in the pond, and I swam around and climbed out all by myself (Mom was standing by to help me but I didn't need any help)! And I dug a hole (my first one), and then I chased a rabbit. After I got all wet, I rolled around on the warm grass and got sandy too. And I chased the tennis ball at least ten thousand times. I'm 15 pounds now, and my dad says I'm getting portly, which I believe is something to do with boats. I'm so excited about this hole I dug - I smelled something under a rock and started to scratch, then started to dig and before you know it, a hole big enough for me to go in! Then Izzy and Tasha came over and I let them dig too, but only after I was all done. I believe I will be doing a lot more digging very soon. I invented another new game in which I lean over the pond REALLY far and drop the tennis ball in the water and try to get someone to get it out for me. This works more often than you might think, and I give myself extra points if they say "Oh poor girl, let me get it for you". If I can't get anyone to help get it, I splash the ball until it floats over to me, then I grab it. I do this with my drinking bowl too, but I have to stand in the bowl to make it more fun, and splash the water out until someone says JacKEEE! or until there is no water left in the bowl. This game with the pond is really much better when the water is slimy and green and there are frogs in it. Speaking of which I found a dried-up frog last week and ran around with it in my mouth for a while, then later gave Mom little kisses, which stopped suddenly when she realized what my breath smelled like. We had some cool racing dogs come over a couple of weeks ago - their names were Lacey and Spanky and they go to trials and chase things. They were very well behaved and in great shape...sometime I hope I can go to a trial too to see what it's all about. I am still thankful to all my friends on this site and at Russell Rescue and of course my foster family -- everyone who helped me and made it possible for me to get better when I was sick and alone, and who have been so generous in helping the other rescue dogs, and the dogs at the Carson Refuge too. Although I am all better now, I still get some lovely messages. I think it's amazing how many people around the world really deeply care about animals, sick ones and well ones, pets and strays.... all of them, even cats. We got a beautiful message from South Africa recently, which ended like this -- "May happiness and love follow all of you wherever you go", and this is my wish for all of you too. Lots of love
March 21	From Jackie Hello everyone! I learned to sit, can you see the picture of me sitting? I'm really good at it! I think I might be the best in the world if there was a sitting competition. Mom found some old pictures of me in my wheelchair - wow, was I skinnny! I am 14lbs now - we bought a little scale, and it has a special button for weighing things that wriggle and don't want to be held in one place and have other important stuff to do (that's me!). We had to say goodbye to my friend Spock the cat. When I was in my wheelchair, I used to chase him and he would walk away from me. I don't know where he went, but there was a lot of crying involved. He taught me to be nice to cats. Well, pretty nice, anyway. Just wanted to check in and let you know that I'm still doing okay. I'm eating a lot and keeping everyone in their place. I don't know how they managed before I came along, just limped along I guess. Speaking of which, Mom hurt her ankle and now spends hours sitting trying to get me to play tennis ball with her....ha! Role reversal!! I hope everyone's doing well and I can't wait for spring! Go Blinky! Go Pip! Handicapped dogs RULE!!
February 19	From Jackie Hello everyone! We hope everyone is doing well and looking forward to Spring! I am full of energy these days and have taken up my official duties as Protector of Everything and General Supervisor of the World. I have an assistant, Jimmy and some other junior assistants too. I spend most of my time outside playing, or going between inside and outside. I have a game to see how many times I can do this before Mom says WOULD YOU JUST MAKE UP YOUR MIND? In the afternoons I have to help her with her work so I sleep in her lap and sometimes wake up to jump on the keyboard and bark out the window. I am able to run all the way to the upstairs now, as well as come downstairs by myself, so I do this a lot during the day, because upstairs needs supervising too. I think I must weigh twenty pounds now, because Dad says Wow! She must weigh twenty pounds! whenever he picks me up. But we will find out for sure next time we go to the vet. I've certainly put on a few pounds at least. I used to have to be weighed on a special scale to see any ounces I might have put on - not anymore! I've also gone through that big bottle of medicine I came to my new home with....the pharmacy is going to make up more and they promised to make CHICKEN flavor. I just started jumping on the couch by myself this week...it's about 20" tall, and I can get up there by myself almost every time...this is highly entertaining, because then all the dogs who were sleeping peacefully on the couch all wake up suddenly when I jump on them. aha! It's pretty quiet around here as we watch the last of the snow melt and wait for Spring. Izzy (one of my junior assistants) has told me that spring will bring rabbits and mice and a ton of mud for digging in. I can hardly wait to dig in dirt, because I can dig in the snow now....I crouch back on my hind legs and dig like mad, then I put my nose in the hole and smell the wonderful smell I've found. Sometimes I steal eggs, and then when the horses come over to see what I've got, I bite them on the nose! It's great fun....Jimmy taught me to do this. He's got them pretty obedient, and I don't think they can tell the difference between him and me, so they do whatever I say too. Which I think is a good role model for everyone around here. I've learned to Sit for my dinner and sometimes I lay Down to be extra cute. Sit and Down have been hard for me, because my rear end has been weak, so it has been on a volunteer basis only. But now I have discovered the power of being good on command. hehehehe. We were all very glad here to see that Patrick is doing so well, and that Arby (Bogie) has a new home and is recovering. Everyone here hopes the very best for Pip too.
January 29	From Karen Hello! We hope everyone is staying warm in these chilly temperatures! Jackie has a new hobby -- "going to ground" under the furniture. She used to spend a lot of time getting me to find something long and poky and watching me crawl around on the floor getting out all of the tennis balls which had rolled under the furniture. This seemed to be a source of great amusement; lately though she's discovered that she can crawl under the couch and get them out herself, and that's even more fun. The other day, I was working at the computer when my subconscious pointed out that although I could hear Jackie playing, I didn't actually KNOW where she was. It's that mental GPS we keep on dogs and children -- when they are too quiet, they must be having too much fun. So I looked around, and the more I looked, the more I couldn't find her, although I could hear her. And then I noticed two brown eyes looking out at me from under my other desk - she had crawled under there to retrieve something, and couldn't get out. She was quite happy under there -- would probably have made a little burrow under there and lived there if she could (as long as someone brought food) -- but she was mad that she couldn't get out. But of course, being Jackie, she wasn't going to let on that she wasn't completely in charge of the situation, and so was being very, very quiet while she worked on her escape plan. I couldn't help but laugh, before rescue operations were instituted. Here is a picture of her other new hobby, getting her belly rubbed.
January 14	From Karen Hello! We hope winter is treating everyone kindly! We got some good news from the vet last week - Jackie's liver values have almost returned to normal and she has gained 2lbs in the last month, which brings her back to her pre-illness weight of 12lbs.... I think she could put on another 3-5lbs for an ideal adult weight, and she's working hard at doing this. Her appetite is good and she's been able to eat dried dog food for a few weeks without having digestive problems. It's helping clear up her teeth too. Her energy is great and she's enjoying the snow immensely - she likes to dig through it to find the leaves underneath and look for snowbound critters. I'm not sure she's ever seen a critter, but something in her knows she wants one. She has almost abandoned use of her ramp now, preferring to come straight up the stairs. In the morning, I need to hold her back a little or she'll be in the thick of the crowd at the front door saying let me OUT! If someone who didn't know her saw her, they wouldn't be able to tell she'd been sick, only see that she looks slender for an adult dog, and if they looked closely they might see some of her leg joints are thickened, and maybe notice that while she loves to jump, her hind legs only just leave the ground. But of course, she'd be running around at top speed so they wouldn't be able to see those things anyway! Today she came all the way down the stairs from the second floor under her own power (first time). She likes to be carried, but she likes to make her own decisions more. This morning the Jack Russell contingent chased off a big hawk looking for chicken breakfast - I'm not sure how dogs that are as small as they are can claim mastery of the skies but they do. Hawks, small planes, blimps, sea birds....all require clearance before they can pass through Russell air space. We've had her four months now, and she is a truly delightful dog. Sweet and gentle, but all little hunter with a mind of her own and places to go. Thanks to everyone who helped and all those who kept her in their thoughts and prayers when she needed it the most.
January 2 2005	From Jackie We have something going on around here called Christmas and Happy New Year. It's pretty odd, because they brought a tree in the house which they don't usually do. It seems like a good idea to me, and especially to Jimmy who is a boy dog. Also there is a lot of eating and presents and promising to diet soon. Christmas seems to be some kind of special Jack Russell holiday, so Jimmy and I made the most of it. I pulled the bows off the packages on the floor, and Jimmy mountaineered and was able to rip off the wrapping paper off a few of the packages then he caused a landslide and that was the end of the fun and all dogs had to be really really good for a while. We had a happy day opening presents and playing tug-of-war with unfortunate stuffed animals. Then it snowed and I had to reveal that I can run up multiple flights of stairs whenever I feel like it .... I can do 15 steps in a row at the run. I had been hiding this fact, just in case it came in handy sometime, not to mention that I like to be carried up the stairs. But then we got a foot and a half of snow (which I now recognize as a lot of fun since I can run much faster through it than they can) so that covered up the hill I usually run up, and I had to come up the stairs instead. Busted! I have found lately that I love to lay on my back and have my belly rubbed....it's a new thing for me, although maybe I used to do it before I was sick - I don't remember now. I have a lot of belly rubs to catch up on so I'm being pretty diligent about this and set aside a little time every day to make myself irresistible. Another thing I've discovered around here is that they aren't very careful with their shoes and leave them laying about, so I have invented a new game (which I haven't let anyone else in on yet) and that's to try to collect one of each type of shoe. So far they've found all of them before I've reached my lair but stay tuned. Another part of the game is to look innocent and try to get the cat to take the rap. In all fairness, I have to mention that my plan to rule the world has hit a snag and that is that I still get stuck in between the couch cushions. I'll let you know once I iron this one out. Happy New Year to everyone with my best wishes for health and happiness and lots of snacks and treats and forever homes and couches by the TV to everyone who needs them.
December 23 2004	From Karen Happy Holidays to everyone! We wish everyone, people and animals, a very pleasant and peaceful holiday season! Jackie got her first taste of snow today .... her reaction was pretty much "go outside? are you kidding??" and she went to lay in front of the fire instead. She has a lovely little jacket to keep her warm, so I think she'll come to enjoy it. She is doing well...starting to really fill out and choosing to stand on her hind legs a lot more, mostly to reach things off the couch and try to get into the chicken coop (her eternal goal). On her last vet visit, we found some of her liver values are getting higher so we've added in some liver support nutrients to her diet which hopefully will help. Her vet here and the vet at the specialty hospital stay in touch so that she is closely monitored. This might be happening because of her Valley Fever medication, or it might be a remnant of the Valley Fever itself. Apart from that, the very good news is that she is getting brighter and more energetic and stronger with each day. She jumps around like a little pogo stick - still earthbound but only just! She is back on chicken and rice, with just a little bit of dried dog food, which her system is able to handle. Over the past couple of weeks she's discovered the joy of hunting and digging. She's clearly decided her days of being cautious about new things are OVER and she is busy exploring her domain, clambering over dead wood in the yard and burrowing underneath the tall grass where she can smell mouse nests (now wisely abandoned by the mice). I felt she was fit enough to be trained on our underground fence this weekend -- she figured it out very quickly and now she can prowl around with everyone else, digging holes and aggravating squirrels and chipmunks and just generally hanging out in the center of what's going on. This was a big milestone for her as she regains her independence. We went out on the salt marsh a few times last week to get our last trips in before the snow....Jackie's theme on these trips is again The Search For Mice so all of my snapshots now seem to be of Jackie's butt as she dives into a pile of something likely to contain rodents. On one of our trips, the tide was quite high, so off she went, jumping on to the floating (away) bridge and leaping into the rushes like a little maniacal gazelle. I, weighing rather more than 10lbs she weighs, had to jump into the stream to go retrieve her. I'm sure I could hear her giggling. Happy Holidays! If you travel, have safe trips.
December 5 2004	From Jackie Hello! I just wanted to tell everyone hello and Happy Holidays! I have no idea what a holiday is but as long as it involves running around and chasing things, I completely approve. We still have sunny weather here, and my day is very full with going for walks and chasing my tennis ball. I have also discovered something called "Leaves"....(well, really my friend Patrick let me know about them)....anyway, they lay on the ground and smell kind of wet and musty, but underneath certain ones there are surprises, like mice or smelly things. They are a brilliant invention and I try to check out each one, which makes our walks take a lot longer than they used to, except for the parts where I run really fast and Mom runs after me to try to catch me (hehehe). I hope she appreciates all the exercise she's getting. I'm happy to tell you that I am gaining weight.... I went to the vet last week and I've put on 2lbs since I began recovering from my illness (I lost 4lbs of my 12lb normal weight when I got sick) - so I'm halfway back. I still have three meals a day and am starting to be able to tolerate some dried dog food now without my system getting upset. I like crunchy dog food a lot -- chicken and rice gets kind of boring after a while, so I'm glad. I suggested that perhaps I could catch the chicken myself and just skip the rice all together but that didn't go over well with the management. And on the subject of birds which are delightful to chase, yesterday we put christmas lights up in the spruce tree. I supervised from the ground and Jimmy climbed the tree and supervised from above. He's a show-off...next year, he's on the ground and I'm going up the tree. And then Dad and Jimmy and me got distracted by chasing sparrows which were flying out of the tree and that was the end of anything productive happening. I will write more when I discover what this "snow" thing is.
November 12 2004	From Karen, Jackie's Owner Jackie is continuing to do very well - handling her medication just fine and putting on some more weight...She's still a few pounds underweight, but gaining nicely. She's starting to be more animated and bouncy - a lot more strength and suspension in her hindquarters....she trots or runs around and jumps up on her hind legs to get tennis balls or reach things off the couch and sometimes for going up a stair if she's really motivated. We have started to teach her some simple commands -- she's a smart little girl and likes to learn new things. She walks on the leash beautifully (I think she might have already known this from before as it came very easily to her) and is starting to come to her name. She knows "tennis ball!" (which means go find one and we'll play) and she's getting the hang of "no" (at least, when she wants to : ) Winter's on the way and we are having a snowy day today -- a completely new experience for her. It's not sticking yet but it will soon. It's always a hoot to see Jimmy, our other Jack Russell, bouncing through the snow in search of snow mice and ice rabbits. Jimmy and his friend Izzy (our 5 year old labrador-cross) wrestle and chase each other constantly - Jackie can't decide whether she wants join in or make them stop.... She's still too delicate for rough play just yet, and she knows her limits, so she contents herself with chasing after them like a little kid sister -- "Wait up! wait up! wait for me!" She's got the hang of the day-to-day activities around here, and is quite dedicated about making sure that only Jackie Approved things happen. Also that nothing that is supposed to happen gets missed -- particularly her daily walk or playing with tennis balls. We walk about a mile a day, completely under her own steam. It's pretty funny to watch her find an egg and carry it carefully on her walk too. She hasn't quite explained her reason for doing that....extra food in case we get lost perhaps? She's been surprisingly good with the cats from the beginning, and is starting to understand how to behave politely around the chickens while still entertaining herself (like any self-respecting Jack Russell). The cats are middle-aged and large and relatively stationary -- I think a kitten -- which we don't have and have no plans on getting -- would drive her out of her mind. We all went for a walk in the salt marsh a couple of days ago - she liked that, but she would have liked it better with a tennis ball to chase (or maybe a mouse?). Next time I will bring that (tennis ball, not the mouse) and my camera. She definitely prefers familiar surroundings, but goes along with anything that's going on. She doesn't fall or get her legs tangled up anymore, and she can spin and jump to get tennis balls, and even crouch down to get them when they go under the couch. Everyone's messages are really touching - thank you all. Jackie sits on my lap at the computer and I read each one to her. It's good to know there are so many caring dog and animals lovers out there.
October 28 2004	From Jackie I graduated from therapy yesterday! Mary and Luis (my therapists) gave me a test to see if I was ready. I ran around the traffic cones, and up the ramp, jumped over the jumps and climbed the stairs, and they said "WELL! There's nothing wrong with this dog!" And everyone laughed ... then I got to swim for the last time ....twenty minutes against a medium current with no life jacket which is EASY for me now. Luis is always right beside me and Mary watches and encourages, then she towels and blow dries me off. I will miss them -- it was a lot of fun to go there and play, and they've helped me forget that I ever couldn't walk. Now I can jump and climb stairs and run fast enough not to be caught when I don't want to be (hehehe). Since it was my last time, I asked if I could have a therapy rat or a therapy fox -- you know, just to motivate me -- so we settled on a therapy chicken. I was very motivated, but Mom asks me to tell you that she is very fond of that particular chicken and great care was taken so that he would also have fun and not get hurt. I don't think I will be riding in the car anymore since I kept jumping from seat to seat (I wanted to sit next to the chicken). I'm learning more about chickens now, so I feel qualified to tell you that there is something odd about that one because the rest of them don't like riding in the car or watching TV like he does. We have all been staying up late and watching a lot of a game called "baseball". I believe it is played with a tennis ball, but no dogs are involved, just a lot of men chasing the ball. I can describe it as Professional Fetch. We play a lot of games of fetch so that explains why my parents are so interested. I am deeply interested in tennis balls too, so I completely understand. Mom also took me out to see a total eclipse of the moon, so all in all, yesterday was an exciting and unusual day. I'm not totally clear on the eclipse either, but it seemed to involve a lot of running outside and saying ooooooh. I've enclosed a picture of me with my favorite purple tennis ball. I am the only one allowed to use it. Also I've told everyone else around here that I am a GRADUATE so they must do whatever I say. For my graduation present I got a set of six colored tennis balls, and no one else is allowed to use them either.
October 19 2004	From Jackie My new Mom has read me all of the wonderful messages everyone sent. I didn't know what was going to happen to me in the months before my foster family found me when I was hurt and I was very scared, then I found out there were people all around who cared about animals and about me. I am so very grateful to my foster family who took me in and got me help (I miss them!), and to the lovely people at the hospital who gave me so much care and love and attention and got me started back on the road to health (I miss them too!). It means a lot to me that people all over the United States and from far parts of the world cared so much and helped me, and sent their love and support. I am doing much, much better now -- I am almost back to normal ... I can run and jump and play and bark and really be a dog again. I am still very thin, but I eat three big meals a day so it's got to be going somewhere. Thank you everyone for all of your thoughts and help.
October 9 2004	From Jackie I am having a great weekend so far...this is the first weekend I can remember where I got to hang out outside and just do doggy stuff. I have concentrated on trying to get inside the chicken coop. I guess they are the same in there as they are out here all around me, but they just seem so much more exciting if I could only get inside! Mom started to read me all your wonderful messages of support. Thank you everyone ... It's wonderful to know that I have so many prayers and wishes on my side. She had to stop as she started crying (I don't know why, humans are weird). But she promised to read more tomorrow.
October 6 2004	From Jackie's Owner, Karen I just got back in from a walk with Jackie and she is not even limping anymore! She walks carefully, but her movement is quite back to normal. Amazing! She's hanging out in a sunny spot now, but she wants to be outside playing. I explained to her about the work I have to do, but she didn't agree with my priorities. Once she puts on some weight and grows all her hair back, I don't think there will be much sign of what happened to her. One tough incredible dog.
October 4 2004	From Jackie's Owner, Karen The therapists just couldn't believe Jackie's progress even just over this weekend ... it's accelerating day-to-day. Today, she did the entire course of jumps, ladder, ramp, cones without stopping (twice), then swam for 20 minutes without a lifejacket...just her little wetsuit. They want her to reduce to two therapy sessions a week, since she is getting a lot of benefit from exercising herself between sessions. Her favorite exercise is jumping into the chicken enclosure (5-1/2") then trying to jump into the chicken coop (18")...it will take her a while to succeed on the second, but it's great exercise because she has to get on her hind limbs (which also happens to be her homework). I put her in once to encourage her, but she got too encouraged and you can probably guess what happened next... The chicken will get over it, although Chicken-Russell relations suffered a small setback. Jackie is unabashed...! Her titer was sent out last week, so we'll get those results soon. Her new vet is keeping the special needs hospital informed and consulting with them -- her case is so unusual that they offered to remain involved.
September 28 2004	From Jackie's Owner, Karen I continue to be amazed at Jackie's progress and her stamina. Up till now, she has been regaining physical capacity, but hasn't ventured out in the world. It has been such a painful place for her and she is very cautious, but yesterday was such a big day for her - her world opened up to her again and she became Queen once more. It was lovely to see. I watched her investigating and instigating and generally being a dog again. Now she can see something she wants and can go and do something about it. It is fascinating to watch her applying what she did in therapy the day before to each day's challenges. She is very deliberate about it....It's like she is saying Ramp...Ramp...I can do a ramp.....Ha! Of course, then she toddles off to wreak some havoc (which is getting more each day, and may I say HOORAY). Jimmy continues to treat her with remarkable diffidence. I think he's making sure he's on her right side. Although sadly for Jimmy he is now on a diet....He didn't look quite as pudgy before Jackie came along (LOL)....I think she's put on a pound or more and I will know for sure on Friday.
September 27 2004	From Jackie's Owner, Karen Here are some Jackie pictures I took this past week and weekend....This morning she walked up the hill to the house, then this afternoon we walked around downtown and even up and down the ramp to the post office! She walked into therapy under her own power and jumped over the threshold to get in....of course, then she realized where she was and tried to go back out the exit (Vet office rules apply). This is Jackie and her friend Maxie Ann (and my friend Elisabeth).
September 23 2004	From Jackie I walked 1/8 of a mile yesterday under my own steam! Mom was very excited for me...she wanted to carry me but I wouldn't let her. Of course, I was pretty tired after that, so they lightened up my therapy in the evening. But today I am raring to go again. We just came back from going down the driveway with Minnie and Izzy....I RAN after them (to make sure I got to sniff everything interesting they got to sniff). After my walk yesterday I helped Mom do horse chores by walking around the paddock inspecting piles of poop...today I rounded up tennis balls and took them under a tree to chew. It was a busy day, but you know, I have responsibilities now. This morning I woke up, chewed on a bone and thought about what to do about the cat situation. I can walk around the house now, and can choose when and where to lay down, or which bowl to drink out of, which means a lot to me. But I just don't know what to make of the cats at all. I was especially astounded (horrified might be a better word) when Spock came over to sniff my chew toy this morning. He is bigger than I am, and he thinks he is a dog anyway. I don't see what cats can possibly be good for.
September 22 2004	From Jackie's Owner, Karen Jackie found a couple of smells yesterday that she was able to investigate - such a small thing but so important to a dog. These little bits of independence coming back to her really seem to energize her, and the more she does, the more she builds her muscles and improves her balance. She has started to run and jump a few inches. Her hind legs still cross, but both are moving independently now, not bracing each other. She'll get her follow-up Valley Fever titer next week, and another weight check. Yesterday she went with me to the hairdresser, who thought she was the cutest. She sat in my lap while I got my hair cut, then they gave her CHEESE, which was a big hit. Then off to therapy where she does little jumps and a pilates ball, and her favorite, the wobble board, then swimming. Her next therapy session she is scheduled for a massage too..... : )
September 18 2004	From Jackie's Owner, Karen Jackie's therapy went very well yesterday...she swam for 15 minutes and didn't get as cold. She is less worried about the water and more determined to swim her way out of it. In fact, she is very determined to swim her way out of it. She is able to stand and balance on the "wobble board" by herself now, and we started doing "trotting poles", which she jumps over - they are just 2" high, but what an accomplishment for her. Her therapist is Luis, and Mary (his wife) helps and does massage, which we're going to try out next week. Luis explained that because her nervous system stopped working -- even if there was no damage to it, which there probably was -- she lost the pathways that connect her brain to her legs and she has to recreate or reenergize them. So we work a little on muscle building exercises and a little on nervous system exercises, like picking up her feet so she needs to put them down, or having her walk over stripes so that she must tell her hind legs to lift up, and various exercises where she needs to balance... I'm learning a lot! Once she woke up this morning, she was scampering around the carpet. She can move well on surfaces like carpet...on surfaces or in places where she's unsure, she just stands and waits for assistance. Pretty smart! She's sleeping on my lap now. We are getting rain & wind from what's left of Ivan so we are all inside for the day. It's pretty yucky out....My heart goes out to Florida.
September 14 2004	From Jackie Yesterday (Monday) evening's therapy went very well and I swam with all FOUR legs moving. I don't like the water very much -- I keep telling them I am NOT a retriever -- however, I'll admit that MAYBE it is working because this morning, I walked about 50' with no assistance, with both my legs moving...yes, both of them! I have been a captive of my body for so long now...I can't believe that I can move again by myself. I'm slow and steady, but I'm not giving up. I get very cold after swimming...I guess because I have no body fat to keep me warm. Mary & Luis have a warming pad ready for me to lay on afterwards and then they blow dry me.... then we drive home with the heat on max and Mom sticks her head out of the window so she won't faint. What a lightweight. Mom says she will get me a little doggy wetsuit (I promise you pictures!). As I gain more weight, I won't get so chilled...I think I've gained 1/4 lb so far. I'm tolerating my medication well, although I can only eat chicken and rice or I get an upset stomach. I will probably be on it for the rest of my life, but that's okay if I can just walk again, and maybe even run. I really have to be fit in order to deal with the cats that lay around this place.
September 13 2004	From Jackie This was a huge weekend for me...mostly I slept, but when I was awake, I began walking again! I've been helpless for so long, but I never gave up hope. I'm starting to feel much better now. This is how it happened : On Friday, I went for a sling walk down the driveway...that's where I have a sling supporting my backend but I walk with my front legs. Then on Saturday, I went on to "crouch walking", where I stand then scoot along on bended legs then stand again. Mom did not see me do it the first time....you should have seen her face when I was standing in a different place from where I had been a few seconds before (hehehe). She didn't know I could do that! Of course, I didn't know I could either till I tried it. Today, I found I could stand and use my two back legs crossed together for support in a standing position while I walk with my front legs....kind of like a rudder (if that makes sense). So now I can get around again, all by myself!
September 8 2004	From Jackie's Owner, Karen Jackie's First Therapy Day .... It went SO well...what a dog! They were so impressed with her and said they were honored to meet her. She said these people clearly have taste. She is absolutely zonked now, but she was so excited it took her about 2 hours to crash... she appointed herself Queen of Everything. We have another session tomorrow, then Mon-Wed-Fri next week.
September 5 2004	From Jackie We had a smooth flight and arrived on time. I was very well behaved during the flight, and quite keen on bits of chicken from my mom’s chicken burrito. I had get out of the carrier to go through security, and had no intention of going back in, so we compromised and I rode around with my head sticking out like I was riding in a limousine. I thought that was brilliant, and was fascinated by pretty much everything going on. The plane was less impressive though, and I slept during take-off. Barreling down a runway at 200 mph is just tooooo boring.... Today we are just taking it easy .... I have met the chickens and horses, and we went down the driveway and around the yard a bit...a little on my wheels and a little carried. My ears are always perked up and I bark whenever I feel like it -- I am telling people and dogs, I’m HERE, I’m HOME. I noticed that my rear legs and toes move a little in rhythm as though I’m walking when I’m in my wheels. Thank you all for everything.
September 3 2004	From Jackie My mom is all packed and ready to leave for the airport in just a few hours : ) She will pick me up at 10:30 tomorrow. Wow! I can't believe this day is really here!
August 31 2004	From Jackie I am so looking forward to settling in to my new home and opening up to life’s adventures that lie ahead for me. All the care and attention I’ve received, has given me hope again that I won't always feel bad. It's amazing and wonderful that I’m going to be okay. I never gave up and kept my determined spirit!
August 27 2004	From Jackie I am doing very well indeed....My daily improvement physically and mentally is just remarkable. Every day there is a new thing that I can do. I am all set to travel next Saturday and my new little wheelchair is ready. My first physical therapy session will be early in the week after I arrive in my new forever home. Very exciting! When I go outside at the clinic, I am ready to go .... the next town, the next county, I doesn't care – when I get in my wheels and I’m ready to zoom! We have a nice hard, flat driveway about a 1/4 mile long at my new home... I think it might turn into my private raceway... I barked today for the first time since I’ve been at the clinic. (A pitbull was walking by and I didn't like the looks of him!) I’m getting my medication twice a day and physical therapy three times a day, and they say, I’m doing so much better than they could have ever imagined! I took a step today on my rear leg and can actually stand on all four's. You know Jack Russels....nothing can stop them! Hopefully, I’ll get to the point where I won't even need my wheels. I’ll be leaving the clinic next week and heading to my new home to start a new life!
August 24 2004	From Jackie Transport arrangements are all figured out. Only 11 days! We leave on Saturday, September 4th.
August 23 2004	From Jackie I can stand sometimes and put weight on my rear legs. Everyone at the clinic is amazed at my progress this past week...I’m really bright and lively and getting much stronger. I’ve had 4 weeks of therapy & cortisone now, and one week of Ketaconazole (now Fluconazole), and plenty of love and attention, and it seems to be working its magic. They can hardly believe I’m the same dog. My new wheels should arrive tomorrow. Funny (and GREAT) if I don’t need them for very long.
August 16 2004	From Jackie Happy news! My test results came back – a very high titer for Valley Fever!! I started on medication this morning. I also found out that bone lesions are not uncommon in Valley Fever. My doctor has not decided yet on whether to biopsy now, or wait a little or not biopsy at all. He might not even want to biopsy. They say I am doing really well. I can stand a little and take a few steps if supported. My tail is completely erect these days, and I’m starting to fill in some of my lost muscle mass and tone. My physical therapy is really helping me a lot. I know I still have to be treated for Valley Fever, but I am once again hopeful for the better life that awaits me.
August 13 2004	From Jackie The doctor did my MRI. It was not good news... there is no sign of injury. He is hoping that maybe there is some bacteria or virus at work that has caused my paralysis, but there is a large mass extending from my lungs to my kidneys, and a lesion in my tibia. The radiologist thinks it might be cancer, although the doctor noted that I am very young to have cancer like that. He ordered a screen for Valley Fever, which sometimes causes these type of symptoms. The good news is that you can treat Valley Fever. Valley Fever is something that happens where I live. You can read more about it at this web site. I am waiting for the test results. I am very sad that I will not be able to go to my forever home as I had planned this next week. The doctor said he could want to do a biopsy depending on my test results. Please keep me in your thoughts. I want so much to get better.
August 10 2004	From Jackie My mom said she is going to read all your e-mail to me when I get to my new home. Only a week from tonight and I will meet her. The people at the clinic say I’m doing great. Thanks to all of you who have helped me get this far and restored my hope.
August 7 2004	From Jackie It has been an exciting day. My new mom is going to come get me and we are going to fly on a plane. She hopes this will minimize the stress on me. Mom said she is really looking forward to meeting me and maybe seeing one of my physical therapy sessions. She plans to pick me up at on Wednesday Aug 18. I am really upbeat. I am settling in well and feeling more comfortable. In fact, I am "zooming about chasing cats", and I found a food I like too. They took the measurements for my wheels. Pity the kitties!! My wheels are in progress and they say no problem having them ready by the 18th. I like www.handicappedpets.com, especially the sled cart! My new home gets plenty of snow – I think I might like that. I've never flown before...it should be interesting!
August 2 2004	From Jackie With the help of rescue, I am at a clinic that is giving me lots of good care. They want me to stay for 2 weeks to do therapy and put some weight on. I got really good news today. A very nice lady and her husband would like me to come live on their "farmette". They promise to take excellent care of me and give me every chance to have an interesting and full life with a lot of cuddling. I know I could be happy there. My new mom is counting the minutes till we can meet. But I need to stay at the clinic until I am stabilized and doing better. My mom says, no matter what the diagnostics show, she will give me a loving home for the rest of my life. I found out today that it's probably too late to help me with surgery. My new dad started building me a ramp from the house to the yard today and I am going to get measured for some wheels.
August 1 2004	From Jackie My new friends helped me come to a special clinic for animals with serious medical problems. Today, my first day, I had two physical therapy sessions and I'm getting steroid medication to help the inflammation in my discs and spinal column. I'm scheduled for an MRI, whatever that is, to see if surgery will help me use my hind legs again. I guess I have a disc injury and if it had been treated when it happened I would be fine today. I hope other animals, whose owners read this, will get the medical attention they need and not have to go through all that I have gone through. At any rate, there is a chance for me and that's what counts. My new doctor and friends hope that with aggressive physical therapy and medication there is a chance I'll be able to walk again. This is really exciting. I can stand on my front legs and spend time sitting up. All of the nice people at the clinic picked me up, petted me and carried me around all day when I wasn't busy working with them, making my muscles stronger. They are also making sure the wheels I have are right for me. If they aren't right a nice man in Tucson will help make me a new pair so I can get around. I love the attention I'm getting here and am thankful to all of my new friends for helping me have a chance to get better. Love, Jackie
July 26, 2004	From Jackie's Foster Family The vet said that Jackie is too far along to have surgery. What she really needs now is therapy. So me and the women I live with have been doing just that. We have also decided that we can hang on to her to ensure she gets the therapy until we can find her a permanent home. She is doing really well. The doc also said she has no infections and that she has deep muscle pain which is good because it means she can still feel her legs. The other thing he said is really good is that she has control of her bladder. The visit only cost $85 and to get her perfect wheels will cost ~ $200. We have a pair of wheels that are around 10 years old and we need to get something that fits her better.

Original Story

Hi, my name is Jackie.

Jackie