Congratulations, Jesse!!

Jesse found the one-in-a-million Forever Family that he has been waiting for and was officially adopted on December 17, 2007. We could not be happier for JJ or for his new family. Merry Christmas, sweet boy!!

Still Waiting!

Unfortunately, JJ's potential adopter changed their mind about getting a dog and dear Jesse is still looking for his Forever Home. Austin Aussie Rescue is providing foster care for him at this time, but Jesse longs to be where he can really soak in the 1:1 attention. He is recovered from his surgery and ready to be someone's very best friend! He was at our group's Meet & Greet on Saturday and was easily the friendliest and most social dog in attendance. JJ just LOVES people.

He's Back!

Well, Jesse is really getting to make the rounds of the foster homes. He is back here at my (Dani's) house in preparation for a visit with a possible adopter tommorow. When I picked Jesse up he reconized me immediately, and I was happy to see him too. He traveled well all the way home, AND when he came in our house...NO MARKING! He didn't even try! I think that is because he was familiar with our house, but it's a great sign of progress. He also remembered where his crate was and went straight upstairs to it, after greeting everyone of course.

Jesse James moves to an Austin Aussie Rescue home!

The director's home, in fact!! Let's hope that Austin Aussie Rescue will be able to find him the Forever Home this dear boy so deserves!

We will post updates when we have them so that Jesse's fans will know how his journey turns out...

Waiting

Jesse had to go back to the director's rescue ranch for a while. He was having trouble getting along with the other alpha-ish male dog in our home. It really hurt my heart to let him go, and the kids were not happy. Jesse was a joy as a pet in our home, and we were very sad about the siuation, but we didn't want the dogs to harm one another. The funny part is that he got along with the other dog in the house.

When at our home, Jessie would follow me around. Soon, he got tired of the way I went up and down, up and down the stairs. So, he started to wait for me in the middle of the stairs. One I sat down for a while he would come all the way up, or all the way down the stairs. It was funny to walk by the stairs and seem him perched there. Or course I had to get a picture. (Above.)

Half-and-half

Jessie has the most amazing eyes. They are half brown and half blue. He uses them to his advantage too.

Where is the gang?

I couldn't resist the cowboy costume for a foster dog named, Jesse James. He tolerated it rather well, actually. As long as he was being petted, he was willing to wear anything.

I am getting a chance to learn more about Jesse's personality and temperament. He does seem to have some territorial guarding issues with other dogs. He will also bark at the door when someone knocks. He has not shown anything but tenderness with people, though he a bit rougher with his foster brother dogs. Actually, he is fine with the Aussie foster brother, but has issues with his golden retriever foster brother. Maybe it is an Aussie thing? I think he would probably be best in a one dog family.

Maybe because of his hip, but Jesse does not have the high energy level of most aussies. He is content to just be wherever his people are, and especially his special person (at this home his foster mother.)

He loves his crate and uses it throughout the day to rest in, and sleeps all night in it really well. He has not marked at all in our house since the very first day.

He is so sweet and loving and the one of the cuddliest dogs I have know. He has a happy wiggle for every person he meets, and he is good with kids.

We took him for a walk the other day and he walked great, but random things did bother him, like a skateboard passing,sprinklers, etc. He recovered well and followed his foster family down the road though.

Pleasant Suprises

[Jesse watches his foster mother from the window.] I have to admit that I am always a bit surprised when I get a foster dog that has been homeless for a long time that is not antisocial or aggressive. I am amazed by how much sweetness and affection they still have in them. You would think those long months living in a kennel will really take their toll. However, Jesse is so absolutely sweet. He loves people. If he could, he would Velcro himself to my leg. Shadow would have been an appropriate name for him too. It if funny though, because I can see that he likes other people as well. He spent much of yesterday either at my feet and going upstairs to lay near the kids. He is particularly fond of our boy child. It was like he was so drawn to both places and he just couldn't decide so every few minutes he was back and forth, back and forth. His crate is also upstairs and he likes to rest in that, though given the chance her prefers the bed. (Bad foster momma!)

He has been two days without the belly band and no accidents inside! His pattern definitely seems to be the first day of trying to "mark" and then understanding that he has to do that outside. Speaking of outside, Jesse has had enough of that. He would prefer to be inside...always. :)

He very much likes his routine, and if I am late for our dinner routine he will pace around in the kitchen to remind me. :)

Welcome, Jesse James!

Jessie joined us today. We are his new foster home, and hopefully the last on his visit to a forever home. I am happy to say that beyond the first initial attempt to mark the first few moments in the house, there have been no more attempts today. He has figured out already that it is best to do that outside. We will keep the belly band on for another day or two and then we will try to go belly-bandless. That stairs have proved to be no problem for him to manage.

Jesse has been a joy to have in the house already. He has wiggled his way into every one's good graces already. Those striking eyes are hard to resist. He has been really good with the children. He was a little sad when his previous foster mom left, and he watched out the window for a long time and whined. He was very easy to distract though, and hasn't left my side since.

I like the way he nudges me a bit when he wants my attention, and he is a leaner. When you start to give him so love, he leans in for more.

We look forward to getting to know him better and are happy to have him with us.

A crazy month

Jesse James has had a busy month. After his stay at Austin Aussie Rescue foster Matt's home, he came back to our home briefly in preparation for a stay in a trial home. Unfortunately, after a few days it was clear he was not a match for that family, and he came back to stay with us. Later, he had another chance at a home, but that family chose one of our other dogs. So Jesse James is still patiently waiting for his family to find him.

Jesse continues to heal well from his surgery and his marking is no longer the problem here it once was (though everyone should be aware that they need to be vigliant when he first arrives at new place just to be sure!). He has a good time playing with the other dogs and LOVES attention from the people in his life.

He will likely go to another foster home this Friday for a few weeks... hopefully this will be the last temporary stop for dear Jesse...

A new Aussie-loving foster home!

One of our pals from Austin Aussie Rescue took dear Jesse James home from our Meet & Greet today to be fostered at his home for a while. It will no doubt be nice for Jesse to have a break from being one of our huge pack and get a little more one-on-one attention. Thanks, Aussie Rescue! And Good Luck, sweet Jesse James!

GREAT week!

Jesse James has had a great week! He got his sutures out on Monday which meant the end of the e-collar-- YAY! Having that helmet gone has made us ALL much happier. Doc said that Jesse's hip looks "fantastic" and that he can already feel some good muscle on that hip. He predicts that Jesse will be fully healed in about four weeks, but he is under NO activity restrictions at this time and he is ready to find his Forever Family now!! He will be at the group's Meet & Greet this Saturday at the Great Hills Trail PETCO ready to show off his new gait. (He almost never does his little 3-legged hop these days!)

Someone asked me why Jesse is wearing a "diaper" in some of his photos. That is actually his belly band and he is wearing it because he had some marking behaviors when he first arrived here. But as he has settled in and gotten used to our routine and begun to feel more comfortable we have noticed much less marking. We do worry he might try to do it again at first at his next home if they do not use the diaper at first so we will send some to his next foster or adoptive home. (Here is another article on marking: http://www.sspca.org/TerritorialMarking.html.)

Jesse has been a perfect houseguest and really just the sweetest dog ever. Can't wait for his wonderful new family to find him!!!

Post Op Day 4: Walking on his left leg!

Jesse James is bearing weight and walking on his leg most of the time now rather than hopping! We are so excited for him. His pain seems under control and he is wagging his tail most of the time again. He is loving the VIP treatment here in his foster home! Yesterday he got up on the couch for the first time and today he looks like he'd like to make it his throne! We plan on getting him a nice cushion to use as a bed instead.

He really enjoys taking little walks outside on the leash-- he seems to prefer that to playing in the back yard even before his surgery, frankly. He has also seemingly accepted his E-collar, which is great because he needs to wear it except for eating and walking (both of which are done under close supervision) until his sutures come out next week.

Post-Op Day One- Touching Down

Jesse James was already touching his left foot to the ground yesterday-- a great sign! He is taking a few steps here and there using that leg, so he is on his way. He was in much higher spirits and seemed much more comfortable by last night.

On our last walk of the night last night Jesse and I were walking and saw a beautiful Heeler wandering the street. She came over to see Jesse and we used some treats to bring her in so that we could contact her family. Right after Jesse & I brought Storm in, it began to rain HARD, so we were happy that she came with Jesse. She spent the night with us because we couldn't reach her family until this morning, but they were very grateful to us for getting her home. So now Jesse James is a dog rescuer too!

Hard Night

Poor Jesse James had a hard first night-- he was hurting and he had to sleep with that darn collar on. We gave him some extra pain medicine so that he could rest and this morning he seems to be doing a bit better and is up walking around the house and interested in everything again.

Surgery Day

Jesse made it through his surgery and back home today-- what a trooper! He is hurting and really dislikes the e-collar, but as we keep whispering to him tonight, "the worst is over"...

He is able to walk by holding his left leg up and walking/hopping on the other three. He has peed and taken his pain meds and nibbled on a few bites of kibble. He is in his crate right by our bed so that we can keep an eye on him and reassure him.

The next few weeks will be hard for Jesse, but every day will be a little better. We will keep everyone posted on his progress. There are several new photos in his album too-- even close-ups of the incision for those with a strong stomach!

Two Week Report

Jesse has really relaxed in to our routine here during the past two weeks. He really enjoys being INSIDE and with his humans, but he is a gentle and patient playmate with all of the puppies as well.

One behavior Jesse needed to work on was marking. He has been wearing a belly-band while he is inside this week and it has really improved things. We will keep working with him in this one area, because he sure is a sweet boy and a nice house guest in every other way.

Jesse's surgery is scheduled for Thursday and so this week we will gearing up for his recovery.

Settling In

Jesse is starting to settle in. He is working hard this week on learning some nice house manners (no marking, please!) and feeling comfortable with all of these changes! Now that he is inside he seems to never want to go play outside. He scoots out quickly after some encouragement and then immediately wants to come back in. Sweet boy!

He is fine with cats, great with kids and puppies and other dogs. He likes men and women. And he really enjoys the indoor life!!!

Welcome Jesse James!

Jesse James finally arrived at our Foster Home tonight... his first step toward having his hip surgery and getting adopted! 5 year old Ben and I went to pick him up at the Rescue this evening and he hopped right into the car!!

On the way home we stopped at Pet Supplies Plus for a quick bath. Jesse was such a great sport. He patiently allowed a full scrubbing plus ear cleaning, nail trimming, brushing, & high-powered hair dryer! Such a good, sweet boy! And so pretty-- he really charmed everyone at the store!

Once we got home, he was welcomed by Jason and introduced to our resident pets, Luci, Vegas, & Jack, plus the packs of little foster puppies! He took it all in stride and wagged his rear at all of them. He doesn't appear to be especially interested in our two cats nor the guinea pigs at this point... we will keep everyone posted.

He didn't feel up to dinner tonight.. he is still a little nervous and taking it all in-- so many changes in a day! But he is lying at my feet while I type and seems very content. What a wonderful house guest!