Guido's story begins with his half-brother, One-Eyed Jack. |
Jack is short for One-Eyed Jack.
Jack had what we called a fish-eye. I don't know the medical term for it. One eye was smaller than the other, and its surface was flat and cloudy. I couldn't say if the deformity was congenital or due to injury. Both are equally likely.
Because of the deformity, the breeder couldn't sell him to a pet store. So my mom and step-dad agreed to take Jack. To be honest about it, he had nowhere to go; he was damaged merchandise and couldn't be sold. If it weren't for my parents, he would have been euthanized.
In addition to the fish-eye, Jack had a couple of bum legs. The breeder kept him in a grated floor cage and he broke both hind legs as a result. His legs healed that way, unset and crooked. That was the other reason Jack couldn't go to a pet store.
Jack loved every person and every dog he met. He played hard and he didn't know anything was wrong with him. However, he started to experience more and more pain as he grew. Eventually, he was in so much pain that my parents made the decision to let him go. I was frustrated about the situation, but I'm grateful that he had several months of being in a safe, warm, and loving home, of playing and being loved on.
Jack had what we called a fish-eye. I don't know the medical term for it. One eye was smaller than the other, and its surface was flat and cloudy. I couldn't say if the deformity was congenital or due to injury. Both are equally likely.
Because of the deformity, the breeder couldn't sell him to a pet store. So my mom and step-dad agreed to take Jack. To be honest about it, he had nowhere to go; he was damaged merchandise and couldn't be sold. If it weren't for my parents, he would have been euthanized.
In addition to the fish-eye, Jack had a couple of bum legs. The breeder kept him in a grated floor cage and he broke both hind legs as a result. His legs healed that way, unset and crooked. That was the other reason Jack couldn't go to a pet store.
Jack loved every person and every dog he met. He played hard and he didn't know anything was wrong with him. However, he started to experience more and more pain as he grew. Eventually, he was in so much pain that my parents made the decision to let him go. I was frustrated about the situation, but I'm grateful that he had several months of being in a safe, warm, and loving home, of playing and being loved on.
Knowing what I do now, we could have surrendered Jack to a rescue organization; they would have healed him and found him a home equipped to care for his special needs. Even if you can't adopt a rescue dog, consider donating to a rescue organization. They have astronomical vet bills because they help dogs like Jack every day.
I still miss Jack. He was a one-of-a-kind, and he is the reason I had my heart set on getting my own Italian Greyhound.
Fast forward several years.
I was looking to adopt my first dog. I did my research and I had submitted applications to a couple IG rescue organizations. Then we got a call from the breeder; Jack had a half-brother who needed a home. I couldn't say no to that, could I? Logic says I should have said no thank you. But logic was on vacation that day.
And that is the story of Jack. And why I bought Guido from a puppy mill.
Fast forward several years.
I was looking to adopt my first dog. I did my research and I had submitted applications to a couple IG rescue organizations. Then we got a call from the breeder; Jack had a half-brother who needed a home. I couldn't say no to that, could I? Logic says I should have said no thank you. But logic was on vacation that day.
And that is the story of Jack. And why I bought Guido from a puppy mill.