Meet Mr Jackson!  What a transformation this little guy has made. Jackson came into our rescue with absolutely no previous socialization.  We have had to give him lots of time and his foster has never had to move  so slow to help him find his way to being a dog. Jackson literally had no personality. He did nothing but lay in his kennel.  That was his safe place, and the only time he seemed comfortable. 

 

Understanding that he’s only about two years old and seeing him so utterly frightened made us think he may have come from a situation where he wasn’t given any care. He was very underweight.  He was beyond shy. He literally trembled unless he was asleep.  He did not understand getting a treat or being rewarded with a pat on the head. 

 

Jackson also came to us with a non-infectious skin staff issue. This was due to emotional and immune system stress.  Where the skin was disrupted, he would lose all of his hair right down to his skin.  The natural pigment of his skin even went away, seemingly.  Treatment was too fold, one he needed a nutritious food plan and two he needed to learn he could trust and not be afraid. He was given a quality puppy food, with a raw egg on top of each feeding. Likewise, he had to have his skin irritations cleaned several times a day with alcohol. Soon, the places peeled off and hair is growing back in.  It will just take a little time for the last ones to fully fill in.

 

In the beginning, Jackson was allowed all of the quiet time he wanted in his kennel for short periods of time. After many weeks, Jackson began the blossom  He has learned that cleaning his skin sores felt good and was glad to sit for those sessions. He has learned to play with the other dogs and has even taken to sleeping with them in their beds rather than in the kennel 24 seven.  Jackson has learned to potty outside and rarely has an accident. He has learned to play with toys and wrestle and play with his foster siblings.  He is definitely comfortable still in his kennel and sleeps all night without a sound.

 

He is just beginning to consider jumping up in your lap, but is still unsure of what the result might be.  He has advanced emotionally from being in sheer terror and trembling to coming to you and asking for attention.  If picked up and held, he loves being in your lap and will continually nudge your hand for more petting. He is still, however, very shy.  He is easily startled.  And he will seek out his kennel for comfort. 

 

He is totally calm and has only begun to somewhat beg at suppertime. He is used to eating inside the kennel and is totally non-food aggressive.

 

Jackson loves to go outside, run and play with the other dogs explore and even sometimes gets brave enough to bark at the squirrels. It has been a pure joy to watch this little creature who was a total cocoon open into a butterfly. 

 

Jackson gets along with the 11 year-old in the house and would probably do best with  children that can help him to continue to mature and trust.  He’s definitely earned the right to have his own forever home.  His foster says it’s the next step in Jackson’s story. He needs his own space but would benefit from a quiet home with folks that can continue to help him become comfortable and secure. Currently, he has four siblings and does fine, but he could benefit from being the center of attention and care, but still have a buddy to play with.