Meet Da Pack -- Day Seven

OK Mom

You know da drill.....

Roll it before I changes my mind

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Gee, she's getting rather nice about sharing her blog with me and her pack members.  And when Amber's nice about something, she is also up to something that I'll find out about much later.

The next member of Amber's pack that I would like to introduce is

TUCKER

Tucker is one of our rescues.  Originally, he was sent to his new home at the age of 10 weeks old.  Our daughter found out that he was tied up outside all the time and had very little interaction with people.  She was able to get him when he was about 5 or 6 months of age.  He was suffering from severe mange brought on by stress and required continuous medical treatment.  We were more equipped to care for him, so we brought him home to live with us.

Tucker was born in 2002 making him 9 years old now.  He is the only short-legged Jack Russell we have in our family.  When he first came to live with us just before Christmas of 2002, he was very timid and pretty much scared of his own shadow.  We had to take him to the vet once a week to receive treatments for his mange, which had left him nearly bald and covered with open sores.  These weekly vet visits also frightened him and didn't help our efforts to gain his confidence.

In time he did come to trust us completely.  He is now one of the most loving little dogs I have ever met.  Unfortunately he does still have a few mental scars from his early abusive treatment.  We have to remember not to pat him directly on top of his head, as he still cowers when he sees a hand coming toward him.  But he loves to be scratched behind his ears now, and with a slow movement to his head, he is loving head scratches too.

Tucker also has some physical problems.  He has been tested for both Cushings and Addison's diseases but both have been negative.  He has muscle tremors frequently.  His blood has to be tested every 3 months as his potassium levels have been high on several occasions.  He is also taking thyroid medication and will continue taking this for the rest of his life.  At times he is very wobbly on his feet and also hunches his back on the days when his spinal arthritis is at its worst.  There is a possibility that Tucker may have suffered some trauma on his back at an early age.

Considering the bad start to his life, Tucker has come a long way.  He fits in beautifully with the rest of the pack and is very loving and very happy.

About a year after Tucker came to live with us, we were also fortunate to be able to rescue his brother, Rusty, who was also living in horrible conditions.  You will meet Rusty on Amber's next "Meet Da Pack" post.

Here are some pictures of our boy, Tucker.

THINGS THAT TUCKER LOVES THE BEST

A good game of tag with his buddy, Reno

Dancing with his brother, Rusty

Playing with the hose

Note:  This same photo was featured on June 18, 2010

on the "Page a Day" calendar published by

Workman Publishing

*****

Tucker hunches his back due to spinal arthritis

Our sweet boy is so full of love and trust now

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Ok, back to our hostess,
Ms. Impatience

Mom, you are very long-winded and it HAS to STOP now
OR
I won't shares MY blog wit you anymores.

Now it's time for me's to go takes my morning nap in da sun.
(Sorry bout all da cold, wet wedder lots of you's is havin' now)

HAPPY THURSDAY

EVERYONE'S

AMBER