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WHAT
A DIFFERENCE A HOME MAKES
The Story of Jackson
Working in
rescue, we really see it all. We see the abused, the abandoned
and the beaten and we try to befriend them all. It can be utterly
heartbreaking. But what happens when the dogs we rescue are loved
family pets, owned by caring people who are forced to turn in
a dog because of extenuating circumstances? Surely, these dogs
are a dime a dozen and aren't worthy of special mention. People
give up dogs every day, right?
When we were
contacted about Jackson, by the same caring soul who sent us Ruger,
we learned that Jackson's owner was allergic to him, and he had
been moved to the backyard as a result. We don't like to see "yard
dogs" but this wasn't the worst fate for a dog; he had warm,
dry housing and was taken for a run every day, so we weren't really
sure why he was coming to us. But we agreed to help him out, if
it meant he got the chance to live in a warm home.
"He's
five years old and we've had him since he was 5 weeks old, and
he's just the best dog. But my wife can't breathe when he comes
in the house, so he's had to live in the yard for the last little
while. He's really well trained and we hate to part with him,
but I think he would be happier living somewhere else," the
owner told us. Before we left to go meet Jackson's owners, they
casually mentioned "he has a little allergy problem."
This should have set the warning bells off immediately, but time
and time again we try not to be jaded about people so we simply
said "okey dokey" and headed off to the meeting place.
The dog that
jumped out of the truck that chilly Saturday morning was not at
all what we expected.
Apparently
once a handsome red border collie, Jackson was now a naked and
balding overweight creature with a damaged eye. Wherever there
was hair left, behind his ears and on his hind legs, it was severely
matted. His bare skin was moist and yeasty smelling. He shook
his head frequently; apparently one of his ears was bothering
him too. The owner handed us a bottle of antibiotics for his eye
- "He did something to it. We aren't sure what, but this
should clear it up."
His owner
hugged Jackson for a long time and told him he would miss him.
He was visibly upset about having to part with his dog and Jackson
clearly adored him, never breaking eye contact with his human
and not leaving his side. His owner snapped his fingers and told
Jackson "Get in" and pointed to our van. One of the
most trusting dogs I have ever come across, Jackson was clearly
confused but unfailingly obedient, and he jumped inside and sat
down politely, trusting that his owner had a good reason for whatever
was happening. But the look of confusion on his face as I slid
the van door shut hit me right in the heart.
In the van,
Jackson seated himself so that he could watch his former owner's
truck disappear down the highway and he never took his eyes off
the window. We got into the van and headed back to Canada. Jackson
didn't shake, he didn't cry or scratch at the van door, he didn't
make a sound ... he just stared out the window and wondered what
was happening to him.
At the border
crossing, we got pulled over and the border guard was very interested
in why were bringing an American dog into Canada. We explained
that Jackson needed a new home and that we were going to provide
that for him. She insisted on seeing him so we accompanied her
to the van.
When we opened
the car door, the border guard gasped and her eyes turned sad.
She sat down and hugged the placid Jackson, who accepted her attention
with dignity and and a calm reserve. She fed him biscuits from
her pocket and talked softly to him for a long time, until he
finally looked at her and tilted his head. Maybe he was hoping
she could tell him what was happening. Finally she stood up, gave
Jackson a final hug and said "You go right ahead and bring
that poor dog home, just promise me you'll make him better."
And so, our
journey began. I immediately took Jackson to my vet, who just
shook his head and said "what a shame." Jackson had
an ulcerated cornea that would have healed long ago, had he been
actually receiving the antibiotics that came with him. One of
his ears was badly infected. We got antihistamines, shampoos and
antibiotics and armed with the arsenal of veterinary warfare,
I took Jackson home to do what I had promised - try and make him
better.
Jackson
in October 2003
He
was balding, smelly and had a badly infected ear as well as an
ulcerated cornea when we picked him up. What hair he had left
had to be shaved off because of the matts.
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Jackson
remained with us for the weekend, before going to his foster home
on Monday morning. Time and time again I was struck by his acceptance
and his incredible manners. In the house if I told him "go
lie down on your bed" he moved to his cedar pillow and stayed
put until he was released. Outside, he took turns fetching with
my other dogs like he had always known the drill. He seemed to
transfer the trust he had offered his former owners to me, and
he stayed by my side, responded to every command instantly and
without question. He walked gravely beside me on his leash and
stayed at my feet when I sat down. He had this great trick of
sitting on his haunches like a rabbit while you rubbed his chest,
and he hopped in the tub when asked and didn't get out again until
he received permission. In short, Jackson was the perfect dog.
Even though he had been with me for only 48 hours, I was already
dreading having to move him into another foster home.
On
Monday morning we drove to Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal to meet
with Ruedi's partner Nobu, who was returning home to the Island
and taking Jackson with him. As before, Jackson submittedly camly
when I handed the leash to Nobu and said my goodbyes. But I could
feel his eyes on me as I walked away and when I turned back to
look, Jackson was staring at me and straining - just a little
- against the leash. Another person had betrayed him. While I
knew he was going to a fantastic foster home, I couldn't help
but feel I had done something terrible, and I wept the whole way
home.
But
Jackson's undying faith in people helped him again. He settled
in and Ruedi and Nobu's with the same trust and loyalty that he
had offered me, and his owners before me. He integrated into their
pack and made himself at home. Determined to overcome Jackson's
physical problems, Ruedi worked faithfully to make him well. He
fed him a raw diet and shampooed, medicated and vetted Jackson
over and over again, conquering each problem one by one. Jackson's
cornea healed and his eyes were clear and bright. He battled Jackson's
ear infection and slowly, Jackson's fur grew back in soft and
shiny and thick. As time passed, the beautiful dog that had always
been in Jackson showed up on his outside too.
And
yet, no one wanted Jackson. People contacted us because the red
dogs are always popular, but their interest waned when we told
them that his allergies might come back, that he had to be on
a special diet, that future veterinary bills were a real possibility.
They didn't want a scruffy, itchy dog who might lose his hair,
thanks anyway. I felt that I couldn't convey properly how incredible
this dog was, how much he would give his new owners in every way,
that all they had to do was offer him a little devotion because
he would give it back like no other dog would. But no one wanted
to take that chance.
It
took a very, very sad event to turn Jackson's story into a happy
one.
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In Memory
of Riley
On
November 18th, 2003, we received terrible news. Our friends Tim
and Ashlie, who had adopted a beautiful older border collie named
Riley from us less than a year before, emailed us to give us the
sad story. Ailing off and on for a few weeks prior, Riley had
been getting worse and worse and veterinary tests and second opinions
weren't telling them anything. On the evening of November 17th,
sweet Riley collapsed and was rushed the emergency vet. An X-ray
showed a massive growth in his abdomen, probably cancer ... but
his white blood cell count was so low, and Riley's cancer was
so progressed, that he wouldn't survive surgery. And so, with
great sadness, they had to let him go.
We
were all devestated. Riley was a beautiful dog, abandoned at an
SPCA. He too was a dignified, loyal and unendingly sweet soul
who touched everyone who met him. Tim and Ashlie were beyond heartbroken
and couldn't talk about it. They loved Riley with everything they
had, and didn't know how they were going to go on without him.
We all loved Riley and we grieved with them.
After
a few weeks had passed, Tim and Ashlie approached us and said
that while they missed Riley terribly, they also missed having
a dog in their lives. Their home seemed so empty, they said, and
while they weren't sure they were ready - that they would ever
be ready - they wanted to honour Riley by adopting another dog
in need. "Something about Jackon's eyes touched us,"
they said, "we recognized the trust and kindess in them that
we saw in Riley's eyes." They wanted to meet him, and so
a few days later, Jackson left yet another home... but this time,
for the last time.
Tim
and Ashlie fell in love with Jackson right away. They had seen
something special in him, just like the rest of us who knew him
had seen, and Jackson offered himself to them wholly with the
same trust and acceptance that had gotten him through so far.
He moved into their home, but he also moved into their hearts.
And somehow, he seemed to know this was the place for him.
We
saw Jackson last weekend when Tim and Ashlie brought him for photos
with Santa. He is gorgeous now, a deep shiny red colour from head
to toe. He moved confidently beside his new family, and he never
once took his eyes from Tim's face, except when he stopped to
say hello to me. Maybe he wanted to say thank you. But there was
no need to thank me.
The
real thanks go to Mike, for contacting us when Jackson needed
a new home.
To
Ruedi and Nobu, for their unending kindness and their dedication
to transforming Jackson from the sad soul he was to the beautiful
dog he is now.
And
to Tim and Ashlie, for giving Riley the best life he could have
had, for the time he had left. And for giving Jackson the home
that he truly deserved; for seeing past his appearance and recognizing
the loyal friend that lay beneath.
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JACKSON
TODAY
Jackson
is a handsome dog, and a happy one too.
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