Spotlight Terrier: Mikah

Jack Russell Terrier in need of medical assistance
Last Update:	June 4, 2007
Location:	Sarasota, Florida
Dog Name:	Mikah
Sex:	Male
Age:	2 years
Known Issues:	Grade 4-5 Heart Murmur from Heartworms
Background
My name is Mikah, I am two years old. I was rescued from a kill shelter in Sarasota, Florida. RRI took me in a couple of months ago. My first Foster Mom could not keep me and I almost got returned to the shelter. But the call went out to the Florida RRI volunteers to save me and my current Foster Mom said I could stay with her and her pack until I got well enough to find my own family. But it seems I have some major health problems. While I certainly do not act like it, I have a severe case of heartworms, they are so large, they are causing my heart to pump poorly. I am a tri color, very handsome JRT, broken coat with black spots and a perfect tail! I am going to have my first shot this Friday, and then I will have to be on total crate rest, for a month and then have my follow up shot to cure the heartworms. Please keep your paws and tails crossed for me to get well! Crate rest will be very hard for me as I am a very active JRT. My Foster Mom says it will all be worth it and I will feel so much better. I will need some follow up care to see if the HWs are totally cured and if my heart recovers ok from the damage. My Foster Mom is working on getting me obedience trained. I am already house broken, love to play with my Foster brothers and sister and now I am crate trained too. I sit in the front windows and watch the horses next door and dream of the day when I can run with them! I will do alot for a treat! I sleep in my crate, or on the bed all night and love to cuddle up on the couch or your favorite chair in front of the tv. I am very smart and love to learn, so I will soon be looking for a great home where I can be a wonderful, loving pet! Happy New Year! Lots of licks and love, Mikah Progress updates are posted below.
Donations
Mikah requires medical assistance to treat his heart murmur. If you would like to donate to assist Mikah, please select one of the donation methods below. His total expenses are estimated to be $1,500. The meter to the right is used to show the progress of Mikah's donations (and your generosity!). Donate by Credit Card Donate by PayPal Donate by Check Credit Card Donation Russell Rescue, Inc. Attn: Vet Bill Donation for Mikah P O Box 4324 Lutherville, MD 21094-4324
Progress Updates
June 4 - From Mikah Hi Everyone, It's me, Mikah: I am still waiting patiently here near Orlando Florida for my forever home! I had a really great adventure last month and I wanted to share it with you all. I sent some new pictures too. A RRI volunteer was coming to visit nearby where we live to do an internship for her canine behavioral certificate and she spent two whole weeks working with me! I am walking nicely on a gentle leader and sit, stay and lay down on command. My foster Mom is working on reinforcing my new manners. Nickee, the nice lady who spent her time on me says I am smart and great to work with! I have tons of potential just waiting to be unleashed (VBG)! I have so much love and attention I am ready to share. I am a snuggler and a lover. I am still not happy around intact males dogs, but play very nicely with my two neutered foster brothers and my spayed foster sister. I love to rock and race around the yard and the house. Watch the horses on the next lot and dream of my own family. I spend so much time in my crate, it would be wonderful to have my own home. I am completely housebroken, totally crate trained and will do anything for a cookie~ Please consider giving me a chance. Won't you please give me a try? You will fall in love with me! And I will fall for you! Licks and Love, Mikah
March 16 - From Mikah Hi Everyone, It is me Mikah, I am sitting on a lap and dictating this to my Foster Mom. I am feeling very well, full of vim and vigor. I am playing with my sister and brothers and getting some obedience training too. I sit, lie down and come to my name so far. I had an adventure, I dug out of the back yard fence and got to roam the back part of our property, it was cool. It is full of trees, birds, and small animal smells. My Mom says I am very good because I came when I was called instead of continuing the adventure! My sister and I came back and told the others about this great place full of awesome smells. Better than chasing squirrels! I am being very good and though I will need to be taught alot, I am full of love and ready to go to a new home where I can have more fun, love and maybe a few adventures! Please consider giving me a wonderful new home! Fill out your application today, I am waiting patiently..... Til next time, Licks n Love, Mikah
February 21 - From Mikah Hi Folks, it's me Mikah: Wanted to give you all an update on my visit with my prospective new parents. I am sorry to say, I did not get adopted. I was not on my best behavior and though they were really nice folks, it did not work out for me. My Foster Mom says it was a good learning experience though, because now we can see how far I have come in her home and that means I can do that in my new home too! I think I am going to need a home with adults only, not because I do not like kids, but because I need a very Jack Russell savvy home where I will not be allowed to be top dog. I am not good in that position. I need someone who is patient and can spend time getting me past this minor issue. I will do great with someone who can get me to an obedience class and more socialization. I need a firm, make that very firm hand. I am a strange mix of submissive/dominant personality. If I am concerned and fearful, I become very dominant and now we know with new people and situations it can go either way. The people I met were so nice, they are going to adopt a different dog! So please keep your paws crossed that we can find the right home for me. My Foster Mom would love to help me and you work through these issues to become your best buddy ever! Licks and Love, Mikah
February 16 - From Mikah Hi Everyone, This is Mikah. I asked my Mom to write and tell you all how excited I am. First I wanted to thank everyone for all your good wishes, prayers for my recovery and of course your generous donations to my medical fund. I am feeling pretty good now. I still have to have a follow up to make sure, but those nasty worms are gone and thanks to everyone for your good thoughts and love! Now for the real news... Tomorrow I am going to meet a family who wants to adopt me! They sound very nice and my foster Mom says they will love me because I am so special, smart and handsome. There are two other Jacks at this home, so I will have new siblings right away too! How lucky for me! I am feeling very well and I am full of fun and ready to love my people and learn new things! Please keep your fingers and paws crossed that they like me and want me to live with them, so far you all have been my guardian angels and I know if you wish it, it will make it so! I promise to send you an update in a week or so to let you know how it goes! Keep me in mind... Love, licks and slurps! Mikah
February 4 - From Mikah Hi Everybody- It is me Mikah. Guess what I got my last two shots this weekend. Friday and Sat. I did great. I zoomed through both days. My Foster Mom Deb says this is my best training opportunity. I get lots of cookies every time at the vets that I look at her and not the other dogs, or cats, even CATS! I get cookies when I get my shots so I almost do not mind the shots, if there is a cookie to be had! I hardly mind being at the vets because I focus and train. I love interacting and learning every day. I learned to sit and shake my paw, so now I know even more stuff! I jump into the jeep in the crate to go for a ride, I loved it! Mom says I am "coin operated"... I am on crate rest and it is hard becasue I do not feel bad at all so far! I was watching the other dogs train today and I am so ready to work. A few weeks and I will need a recheck for the Heartworms and then another heart test, but I know a wonderful family who wants to love and care for me is out there! I just know it! I am so smart and brave, fearless really, please think about helping me find my forever home. I will write more soon! Love, Slurps and licks! Mikah
January 26 - From Mikah Hi Everyone, It is me Mikah. I wanted to let you all know how I am doing. I got my first shot two weeks ago and my Foster Mom has been keeping me very quiet, which is quite a challenge for us both! I had a really bad first week, I was feeling awful, but last week I was feeling better and next week I get my first Heartguard treatment. Then on Feb 2nd, I go back for my second shot to make sure all those heartworms are taken care of. I cannot wait! I am so excited to get better! I have been sitting in the front window watching the neighbor's horses, dreaming of getting out there to run and run and run, like they do! A few more weeks and I should be able to get back to playing with my foster brothers and sister. Forrest Gump, Maxwell and Puddin Pie are keeping me company and watching over me so I can get well and get adopted to my forever home. Hope it is somewhere close by where I can come and visit them! But either way, it is my dream, I have so much love to share! My crate training is great, I run to kennel for a cookie and I am learning to focus and take direction, my "Come" is really doing awesome! Will ask my Foster Mom to type more next week! Bye for now! Licks and Love! Mikah
January 7 - From Mikah Hi Everyone it is me Mikah: I got my first HW shot on Friday, I am doing really well so far. I hardly know I had a shot let alone Heartworms. I am feeling subdued and my foster Mom is keeping me very quiet. This is really hard, because I think I did something wrong. I would so rather play and romp. Mom is making sure I get out time with just her to reinforce what a good boy I am. She made sure she planned to stay home most of this weekend to keep a close eye on me. I am cuddling on the couch while she types this up for me. More updates soon! Licks and Love, Mikah
If you would like to apply to adopt Mikah, please complete an online adoption application.