The J-Log | March 2017

Hey, Jackson here. Just came in from a walk and before I take my nap, I thought I’d pen my second blog or J-Log. Since it’s hard to write with my paw, I’m just dictating it to my mom so she can type it up instead. I thought I’d tell you about the first time I met my mom and my besties. It was scary.

I mentioned last time that I love to run. Well, after I was born, I was out running the streets somewhere in Kentucky. I mostly just tried to stay away from humans who were grabbing at me, trying to kick me or (I thought) hurt me when all I wanted was some food. I think that’s where I learned some of the football skills I use on my besties – juking, spinning, lunging – then, to get away from humans and now to have lots of fun!

Well, I got caught and, after taking a very long ride in a van with a bunch of my street friends, I was in a place where they called me Reggie. There were other dogs and a woman who seemed nice, but I was just a baby and scared and afraid of humans. I kind of liked her, though, because she let us play and seemed to understand that I needed my space.

Then one day we were in a place where there were a lot of dogs and a lot of humans. The woman I lived with held me tight – I was shaking from the tip of my nose to the tip of my curly tail. What is all this about? I was screaming inside, but no one could hear me. My ears were down and I wanted to be mean. I don’t know why, but I couldn’t be mean…I was just scared. Different humans were touching me and I clung tight to the woman who brought me there.

Then there was this other woman. She talked to the woman holding me. The woman holding me put me on the floor; the other woman started petting me while they were talking. I was still scared and trembling. What is going on, why am I here, why can’t I just play with my friends? Then we all went outside. It was cold. That just made everything worse. All of a sudden these two big dogs came out of the back of a car. Holy cow, who were they? The dark one seemed okay, nice enough anyway. The light one was grumpy – really crabby, but she looked like my mom. For a second, I wasn’t shaking, but then they got in the car and went away, and I went back to where I lived.

In a few weeks the lady, the one who was petting me that morning, came to where I lived. I wouldn’t let her catch me. ha ha  I thought that was the point – we were playing a game, right? I guess not. So I went on another ride – scared and shaking with this new woman holding me. She was whispering to me telling me it would be alright. And wouldn’t you know, those big dogs were there to welcome me (although the crabby one was still crabby).And now, now I was being call Jackson.

I was now in my forever home with my mom.  Yes, the crabby bestie did finally come around – probably because I am so darn cute. Actually I think it was when she was laying in front of our fireplace and I curled right into her belly area – that did it. I now do everything she does and have learned all of her habits, some of which my mom isn’t so happy with. But that’s the life of a dog, right?

Mom’s friends call me Jax, Mr. Jackson (as in Mr. Reggie Jackson – haha – get it?) and occasionally ‘Hey’ when I’m getting into something I shouldn’t. I am so happy and its great knowing whatever I’m called, I’m called with love.

Speaking of love…wait, I’ll save that ‘til the next J-Log. Gotta run and go take my nap!

[Many thanks to Safe Hands Animal Rescue and Amy K. for being Reggie/Jackson’s foster mom. They all do such amazing work.]