| The quality of the relationship between a pet owner | | | | to his nose, the rest of him was white. I asked my |
| and his/her pets is directly related to how much time | | | | son what he found so attractive about this pup and |
| is spent with the pet, training the pet and building | | | | he said it was his eyebrows.... he just liked the way |
| trust. Well now, that's pretty true of human | | | | his eyes looked. Well... that was that, he'd made his |
| relationships also, isn't it? Unfortunately human | | | | choice. Although pure-bred, these pups didn't come |
| relationships are not as simplistic and can be quite | | | | with papers which brought the price down to a |
| disappointing through no fault of our own. No, the | | | | manageable amount. Normally a pure-bred JR will cost |
| relationship between pet owners and their pets is a | | | | upwards of $500.00, but this breeder was selling |
| world apart from human relationships. The only | | | | males for $300.00 and females for $350.00. I needed |
| exception to that is that pets are often like children | | | | a few weeks to get that amount of money |
| and I believe we view them as such because we are | | | | together and so I had the breeder mark his choice |
| their caretakers, they give us love and affection in | | | | and told her that I would pick up the pup in about |
| return for our caring for them. Unlike children though, | | | | 2-3 weeks.It was about 10 days before Christmas |
| our pets will never outgrow their need for the care | | | | when I went to pick up the puppy. I didn't let my |
| we provide to them, at least not in the physical | | | | son know that's what I was doing, I wanted to be |
| sense, as children do.There have been many claims | | | | able to surprise him just a little. My son was sleeping |
| by health care providers that having a pet can have | | | | when I got home, he slept a lot due to the radiation |
| a very positive influence on our health. They provide | | | | & chemo that he was taking. I laid the pup next to |
| companionship for the lonely, they provide us with a | | | | him on the bed and woke him up. Needless to say, |
| reason to exercise (walking the dog), they have a | | | | he was all smiles, he named the pup Chewy, after |
| calming effect upon us when we pet and play with | | | | Chewbacca from Star Wars, my son was a big Star |
| them, thereby reducing stress levels which in turn | | | | Wars fan. To see a big husky guy like my son melt |
| reduces blood pressure and other bodily indicators of | | | | over a little puppy is a precious site. Although my son |
| stress. They give so much and require so little in | | | | really enjoyed playing with the puppy now and then, |
| return, it's almost hard to understand why everyone | | | | most of the time he was just too tired and little by |
| doesn't own a pet.Let me share a personal | | | | little Chewy turned to myself and my husband for |
| experience that I believe will show a prime example | | | | attention. He was a smart little thing and ornery as |
| of how a pet can make a difference in one's life. If | | | | well, both my husband and I couldn't help bonding |
| you've read other articles written by me, you'll know | | | | with him and making him our baby. We took him with |
| that my 24 year old son suffered with brain cancer | | | | us everywhere, and everywhere we'd go people |
| until his death early this summer. Last fall he began to | | | | would oooh and ahhh over him, he was definitely a |
| talk about wishing he could have a Jack Russell | | | | people-magnet. He got smarter all the time, we were |
| Terrier, he said the reason he wanted one was | | | | even able to teach him how to shut the door when |
| because they are such smart animals. His friend had | | | | he came in from outside (we'd let him out and just |
| one and he just admired it so much. So of course, I | | | | barely close the door so that he could push it open), |
| went in search of a Jack Russell Terrier for him as a | | | | he'd come in and then jump against the door until it |
| Christmas present. My husband wasn't real keen on | | | | closed, it was soooooo cute! Every time Chewy |
| the idea at all and I basically had to go against his | | | | learned something new, my husband would beam |
| wishes to get the dog. I did some research to find | | | | with pride (me too:). He'd even taken to calling him |
| out more about the breed, it was said that this | | | | "the boy" or "my boy". Who would have thought |
| breed is particularly energetic and require a lot of | | | | that a little dog could bring so much joy into a |
| playtime and exercise. Many times people would get | | | | household that had been stricken with sorrow at the |
| a Jack Russell Terrier and then abandon it because | | | | prospect of losing a son in the prime of his life. My |
| they didn't have the time or patience for it's | | | | son enjoyed the stories we told about Chewy's |
| requirements. Well, there was always someone | | | | antics when we'd take him out with us, or when |
| home, so I knew the dog wouldn't be neglected. I | | | | Chewy would show off a new trick he learned.I think |
| also knew, that even though my son very much | | | | God had a two-fold plan in bringing Chewy and us |
| wanted the dog, that he would not have the energy | | | | together. Plan 1 was to bring some joy into my son's |
| to expend on exercising the dog and that task would | | | | life and 2, he was giving my husband and I something |
| fall on me and my husband. I'd spoken to my son's | | | | to ease the emptiness that was left when my son |
| friend and asked where he had gotten his JR, he put | | | | passed away. His plan was such a blessing. Chewy |
| me in touch with his cousin who breeds them. | | | | can never replace my son, but there's something |
| Fortunately, her female had just had a litter of pups | | | | about his character that is so familiar. No, I do not |
| a month prior to my inquiry and they were almost | | | | believe that my son's spirit reside in the dog. As I |
| ready to leave mom. I called and talked to her and | | | | said before, to my husband and I, Chewy is very |
| voiced some of my concerns about the breed. She | | | | much like a child and so it's not unusual that we |
| understood my concern and said that she bred her | | | | would associate some of the corny things he does |
| JR's to be much more calm than most, and that they | | | | with those of a real child. The one thing that he and |
| make wonderful pets. I would have loved to make it | | | | my son have in common is that they both have the |
| a surprise, but it was important that my son be able | | | | ability to make us laugh. My son was a real cut up |
| to choose the pup that he wanted, so I took him | | | | most of the time, he loved to make people laugh and |
| with me when I went to view the pups.Who can | | | | so does Chewy. They say that laughter is the best |
| resist a puppy? You've got to be incredibly hard | | | | medicine, don't they?When I look at the impact that |
| hearted to not respond positively to a cute little | | | | a little dog has had on me and at a very difficult time |
| puppy that is so full of life and playfulness. The entire | | | | in my life, it's easy to see what a difference a pet |
| litter was adorable! We picked each one up and held | | | | can make. Not everyone is cut out to be a pet |
| them and played with them. I was stricken almost | | | | owner, but for those who are lonely or suffering |
| instantly by the runt of the litter which was a little girl | | | | some kind of loss, it could be just the thing they |
| who was all white except for a brown patch around | | | | need to get them over the hump.-------Sharon B is a |
| her right eye and ear.... kinda put you in mind of the | | | | registered nurse and internet developer. She |
| RCA dog. My son was attracted to a totally different | | | | contributes to One of the newest ventures Sharon is |
| pup, the pup he wanted was a male and had a | | | | starting is selling products on ebay. She started this |
| mostly brown and black face and ears, there was a | | | | business from the information she received at now |
| white stripe that came down the center of his face | | | | has a sister! |