Saving Jackson

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Saving Jackson

Buford is a Male Black Labrador Retriever mix. He is around 3 yrs. old and is due for Euthanasia on 9-8-09.

Ashley and I were told as we stood in the shelter office "He goes down today" and actually he was only a puppy not 3yrs old.

Jackson was saved by Painfultruth.org on 09.08.09 and was part of the story that unfolded to start the Snowball fund. Jackson was in a city shelter with only 7 days to be adopted out or he was to be euthanized. Jackson was not alone and had many others dogs scheduled to die that day. Among those was Snowball, a White German Shepherd. We saw Snowball and wanted to go snag him out to go into a WGSD rescue. He was over a 9hr drive one way from us. There was just something about Snowball that was dragging us down there. No words could explain it but we just knew we had to do it. (This picture was taken minutes after we pulled Jackson out of the kennel)

We headed out to drive the long journey not knowing what was instore for when we arrived. The day before was a holiday so we had no way in knowing if Snowball would even still be there when we arrived that Tuesday morning. We reached the city pound and were in shock at how small it was. We walked in and were told that Snowball was spoken for. However, he was still there and I rushed through the doors to the back to go see him. This dog from a picture pulled me so far through several states. Why?

I got through the doors and instantly was in shock myself. There were about 15 cats in dirty cages just screaming. It was deafening. There was also about 10 dog kennels and everyone of them was full. I instantly started to cry as I looked in the kennels and saw the faces of these dogs I had seen on the website. I knew their death dates in my head.

One by one I was told each one was getting saved that day. Buford. Where is he? I saw him on the site but did not see him in the kennels. The lady pointed him out to me. Said he was being put down that day. A day early? Was this why Snowball brought me there that day? To save Buford?

We pulled him out of the kennel and he could barely walk. He was filthy and terrified. Just a pup and he was going to be a very large dog. A mix breed, large dog and male. Chances of him being pulled? None. We told the lady we wanted to rescue him and take him back with us. We knew in our hearts that this was all happening for a reason. We went to leave and Buford jumped up and put both his paws on the ladies desk and let out a huge blood hound sounding howl as if saying "Im outta here". We laughed and just fell in love with this boy.

It took some work but we got him in the car. Once leaving town Buford let out a huge sigh and went to sleep. It was finally quiet. He was laying on something soft and he knew he was being taken to a better place.

We stopped several times on the way home to let him eat, drink water and walk around outside to go to the bathroom. He was thankful and the more we stopped to let him walk the better he was able to walk around. We figure he had not been out of his kennel the entire time at the pound to walk and had become weak. He was also not sure about walking on grass.

He made it back with us and instantly went into foster care. The new name of Jackson was given to him to mark a time in his life. He is currently with Courtnee. He is doing well and put back on his weight and growing like a weed.

Courtnee got all his shots up to date, he tested negative for heart worms, given heart worm preventative and needs to be fixed. The vet gave us the news that Jackson's testicles are abnormal and one is actually still up inside of his body. He will need a more invasive surgery to be fixed.

11.14.2009 - Jackson is listed on the local shelters website as off site but available for adoption. He will be adopted through them but stay in our home. He has a family interested in him that will meet him today. We are looking forward to Jackson moving on to the next chapter of his life. He is going to make a family so happy and share so much love. His adoption through them will be a donation to their shelter.

11.16.2009 - The family that came to meet Jackson on the 14th adopted him. I couldn't of asked for a better family for him. It seems that since his rescue this family was there waiting for him and things fell in place when everyone was ready. Jackson has kids to love him and for him to love. Jackson LOVES children!! The parents just adore him and Jackson has a brother (black lab). I had the honor to stop over at their house and what I saw was Jackson was "home". He belongs there and finally "his family" to call his own. He moved in like there was nothing to it and claimed them with out any hesitation. He was happy to see me, I got a woo of course! I watched him and it was as if he was thanking me and saying "Welcome to my home" to me. I left with the best feeling in the world.

Jackson has his dignity and his life restored to him now. He is no longer just some dog cowarding in a corner of a kennel in a disgusting pound waiting to die. He survived. I was honored to be apart of this wonderful dogs story. His new family knows about this site, have read his story and will be updating us with pictures. We can not wait. I thank them for opening their home and hearts to this wonderful dog that I know will fill their lives with so much happiness and love as he did for us in the two months we shared with him.

Below are updated pictures of Jackson enjoying just being a dog! Click on them to enlarge.