Baxter, a very stout Jack Russell Terrier.. I didn't get along with Baxter AT ALL for about a week.. Super hyper, always biting, always getting in fights with Mauie, our newest Beagle.. Baxter was an owner surrender - surrendered directly to us.. he was never in a shelter.. His mom really loved him and cried her eyes out when we picked him up.. she was an older lady - school teacher - who lived alone.. She had to crate Baxter 10 hours a day and finally decided he needed a better life than that.. and I applaud her for that decision as I know it wasn't an easy one to make..
So, Baxter was a TERROR with us... But one night, we ran him pretty good and he was really tired and I decided to make my move.. I petted him gently, while talking to him softly, while making direct eye contact for about 20 minutes.. After that, Baxter was a totally different dog.. a really good boy.. he still didn't get along with Mauie, but he was a great dog to us humans..
So, we're getting his bag ready to send with him today and I look through all the stuff his mom sent with him to us.. So many treats, and toys, and clothes.. photos of him dressed as a cowboy with a hat and bandannas.. i could tell she really loved Baxter and it must have broken her heart to give him up.. So, now I'm really starting to worry..
Baxter may have a tough time getting adopted because he can be abrasive and downright mean until you make he connection with him - like I did that night.. What if somebody doesn't take the time? What if they ignore my suggestion that he should be an only dog and he gets into serious fights with their dogs like he did with ours..? He and Mauie got into it once so bad one of them would have killed the other had I not broken it up..
I'm really worried that Baxter will be sent back to a shelter and euthanized if he doesn't get adopted, or abandoned in the country, or something worse.. and it breaks my heart to know that a little old lady loves that dog so much - and we are starting to - and that his fate could end up that bad.. I really don't know if we an handle fostering.. I dunno that I can handle the heartbreak..
Here's Baxter.. we pick him up in an hour to take him to be transported to Dallas and I just feel like crap about it...
Friendship is like peeing your pants.. Everybody can see it, but only you can feel the warmth..