I had been thinking about getting a dog for my son for about a year.  He is a very shy kid with learning disabities and didn't have many friends but when he was around my sister's dogs he just opened right up. So after 6 months of thinking I started to start our search for the perfect dog. Then in June my sister became a foster mom for Jack Russell Rescue and she start to show me the dogs that were on their web site for adoption.  I really didn't want a Jack because I know how much a handfull they can be.  But over time my sister's new dog (okay she was a foster failure and adopted Forrest) just won over me. We just had to get a Jack of our own.  I then really started to look and check the site almost everyday.  Then one night my sister called me. She said I just had to go to the site and take a look at Maggie.  She was listed as a tiny girl that was older.  I think they said she was 9 years old. Knowing that finding homes for the older dogs is hard I just fell in love, so did my son.  I tried to call the rescue to ask about her because the add said no young kids and I had a 4 year old and Doug is only 8.  I had no luck. But my sister was able to email one of the people and we got the ball rolling. In fact the next day  she was emailing the person while on the phone with me and we were getting the adopton rolling.  Normally it would take two weeks to adopted through this group but Maggie was in desprate need to being removed from the house.  (Owners couldn't take care of her anymore)  I was told over the phone that Maggie was 90% mine I just had to have an interview over the phone with the lady that did adoptons.  Another day of waiting and finally I get the call.  I passed the interview because of my sister and her dogs which I care for from time to time. I was told that Maggie wasn't 9 she was 10.  That didn't matter.  I was also told the owner had given her away only to have her returned because she bit a child.  Well turns out that the people she was given away to had her locked in a basement.  I would bite also.  24 hours later my siter, son, myself and her 9 month old Jack were on a two hour dirve to go and pick her up.   When I got to the door she ran to my son and started to lick his face.  I knew right then and there it was going to work.  The day after I got Maggie I had to get her medical records so I phone her old vet.  Turns out Maggie was not 10 after all she is only 8! Yay for me.  Also this poor dog was given away another time when she was young for three years only to be given back to the people that I got her from. 

 

Maggie is such a well behaved Jackie.  I can let her off leash to enjoy runs in the park, swimming or just a quick run to the car.  I have only had her two weeks and already she had enjoyed a trip to Pittsburgh for a Pet Expo and to watch her cousin Forrest Gumpy compete in Unltimate Air Dogs. (dock diving)  There were even a few surprises for me while I was there. A trainer saw me working with her in the crowd and playing a game.  He told me that she must of have alot of training because of how she pays attention to me in crowds and while playing.  Not only that but a phone call from my son's teacher to ask what was different in the house because Doug was more focused in school and really friendly and outgoing.  So I think we needed Maggie as much as she needed us.  I am hoping to get a friend for her in the next year.