On Valentine’s Day, a sweet black and white border collie-mix puppy found a new home! Lot’s of love…but not much sleep as to which any puppy raiser can attest.
Some asked when they heard of this pending news, “Why do you need another dog?” I don’t think we need them, but rather they need us. For those who may still wonder why we’ve taken on the raising of a puppy, I believe if you have the time and resources and you are doing something good in the world it will all work out. I remind myself of this at 3:00am when we have to go out for the third time since mid-night. Even a big puppy has a small bladder.
Yes, dog ownership can impede freedom to travel and incur more household expenses, but there are ways to adapt so life for all involved ends up being pretty damn good.
I’ve named this little guy Jackson in honor of my dad who passed in April of last year. When I adopted Quint in December 2021, one of my greatest joys was to bring Quint to my dad’s assisted living facility in Georgia. My father loved those visits and they helped me immensely through my harrowing early days of widowhood; getting me out of the house and bringing some brightness to those who needed it most while socializing a new pup. Both staff and visitors loved these bursts of puppy love.
My dad instilled in me a love of animals and our family home in Hackensack, New Jersey, located on the highest point in Bergen County, was what I’ve come to call My Menagerie on the Hill. That love of dogs, cats and all types of finned, furred, fanged and feathered creatures has never left me.
Jackson is one of a litter of eight puppies abandoned at a local tire shop in late November just a mile or so from my home. Found in very poor shape, they were nursed back to health by the local rescue here in Crescent City, Florida. I met Jackson and his littermates while chatting with Ginny Oakwood who owns Crescent City Kennels and runs the Non-Profit organization called ARK – Animal Rescue Konsortium.
I’d struck up a conversation with Ginny and her colleague at an outdoor market a few weeks earlier. She asked if I could help with some PR and marketing for their fundraising efforts for the expansion that is planned for ARK as they endeavor to improve their operations and educate the public of one of Florida’s least affluent counties.
It was while “on tour” of ARK that I fell in love with this litter and their story. It was so hard to choose from among this beautiful pack, but after several visits, a bond was formed with Jackson. He will be a big boy; at 12 weeks old he is so smart and confident, already roaming the property like a pro and responding to his name in two days. Crate training and housebreaking are the most challenging aspects of puppy guardianship, but that is coming along.
The first weeks of bringing a new dog in to an established pack is also challenging – dogs can feel betrayed with all the attention a new pup requires, but patience, love and time will bring greater rewards and continued healing progress for all.
In the weeks ahead I will share Jackson’s progress and share some of my thoughts on a writing course I completed last week and how it has encouraged me to focus on my goals more clearly as I travel on the healing continuum.
