All to often, I find myself wondering what my Jack Russel Terrier is thinking as I attempt to communicate w/ him. As Im talking to him, our eyes in direct contact w/ each other, he sits/stands attentavly looking at me w/ his head turning at a slight angle at times as if he is in fact trying to decipher what Im telling him.
It was a year last month when "Patch" came into my life. My fiance had a Jack Russel for 12 years & ultimatly had to put him down due to health & old age. I remember that day as prior to going to work I told him goodbye as I new my lady was going to have him, though she didnt want to, put humanly down to end "Bruno's" pain & suffering. A few years have passed & she still has not gotton over the loss of her beloved dog. So I, upon learning of a Jack Russel up for adoption at the Maryland Chesapeak City ASPCA went & rescued "Patch" which is what the pound staff had named him due to a large brown patch of fur over his right eye. He had two prior "adoptees", but was returned due to they were up there in age & was mainly looking for a "Lap Dog" which Patch, at only two tears pf age, still had plenty of pup in him thus making the critter a "High Octane" kinda mut. I decided to keep the name Patch as he had been thru so much trauma at the pound with the bigger dogs, I didnt want to confuse him any more than he already was. Patch was at the pound almost 2 years & was thin as the ASPCA was only giving the animal food & water once a day. At first he was very protective of his food as he was always in competition for food w/ the other bigger dogs whom would try to take from the little guy. He now eats as much as he wants/when he wants & has really filled out to be a stocky musculer dog, in a sence, a "Walking Muscle".
HISTORY:::. My lady, whom knows a great deal about this breed informed me that the Jack Russel was specifically bred for the WWII liberty ships which transported men & equipment overseas enroute to war. These ships were infested w/ rats & mice which often got into the ships pantrys & contaminated the food w/ their dropping thus becoming one heck of a health hazard. With the health & well being of our fighting forces in jeapordy, enter the Jack Russel who's primary objective was to relentlessly hunt & kill the vermon. Small yet very strong & aggressive & extremly fast 'ol Jack made a name for himself on those ships by ridding our fighting forces of the disease carrying vermon. With so much at stake, it was imperative our forces were rid of this threat, & 'ol Jack did one hell of a job.
Patch & I have established a bond w/ each other that is unlike that of any other dog Ive had the pleasure of owning. Disabled due to Arthritis that developed a little over 14 years ago from multiple fractures in my lower extremities & pelvis, the result of a drunk driver, Patch actually seems to understand the almost relentless pain & discomfort I must endure on a daily basis. He understands when Im hurting. He is very intelligent & understands many verbal commands I issue to him. My lady tells me that our bond is such that if anything should happen to me, the animal would more than likely morn itself to death. Im inclined to believe this to be true as Patch becomes very miserable when Im gone, but upon coming home he truly is a very happy animal. Were best friends & their isnt anything I (Within reason) wouldnt do for the dog. Im convinced that Patch knows that I did in fact remove him from the living hell he had to endure for almosf 2 years which has resulted in his undying faithful companionship w/ me. I thank God for blessing me w/ my animal as, like the many thousands of you out there, I feel that MY DOG is truly uniqe.
Peace & love to those of you that help & make our world, a world that is getting smaller & tourmented daily, a better place for our 4 legged friends.