Jackson...our last shelter dog (for now)

Jackson wasn't supposed to be in our family.  It just happened.  It was Saturday, December 6, 2008, and Shorty had to go to the vet for his annual checkup.  As I was talking to the vet, she asked if I knew anyone who would want a puppy.  She proceeded to tell me that a young kid found him living on the streets. He brought him to the vet's office and told them either they take him or he was going to just let him go.  Of course, the vet took him.  They named him Jackson and he "lived" at the vet's office for about a week before I came in.   I told Mrs. Brownlow (Shorty's vet) that I didn't know anyone at the time who would want him, but asked her for a picture of him to post at work.  She went in the back room, and she came out with this little bundle of puppy in her arms.  I thought she was only going to give me a picture!!  She said he would make a good addition to our dog family.  At the time, we had Shorty, Hogan, and puppy Oreo.  We didn’t want another dog.  I took Jackson in my arms and he had his little head on my shoulder.  He picked up his head and looked at me, then sucked on my nose.  Well, if he was living on the streets, he was probably looking for food from his mama. Of course I couldn't say no...I brought him home just to "foster" until I could find a permanent place for him to live.  He was so little and scrawny, but his legs were so long.  We couldn't figure out what kind of dog he was; some sort of brown, black and white brindle color.  When I went home, my husband almost flipped out.  I told him we weren't keeping him.   Little did I know I would fall in love with him that weekend.  He and Oreo got along so well (they were only 6 months apart in age), and they played and chased each other.  Jackson was real skittish, though.  He would curl up and hide under the Christmas tree and sleep.  He looked scared if anyone wanted to pick him up or pet him.  I felt sorry for him.  I just thought of the life this little guy had on the streets scrounging for food and shelter. The weekend came and went, and I had to leave this puppy to go to work on Monday.  I thought about him all day, and cried.  I couldn't give him up, but no one else in my family wanted him except me.  I cried on the drive home; I walked in the house and was still crying and went straight into my bedroom.   When I was composed enough, I told my husband I wanted to keep him.  He agreed, but he didn't want anything to do with raising a puppy again.  With some sleepless nights and some training, he is a happy, playful dog who adores my husband.   He is one of the smartest dogs we've ever had.  He loves tennis balls.  We later found out that he's a Catahoula Leopard Dog, the state dog of Louisiana.  They need to keep busy which is why he plays with tennis balls endlessly.   I can't imagine life without Jackson; he is the little instigator in our dog family.  Like they say, if you don't play with a Catahoula, they'll eat your house.