How I accidentally became the proud owner of an adorable little Jack Russell Terrier

Do you ever wonder how people pick their pets? I've watched a few episodes of Pick A Puppy, where the families research which breeds will fit in best with their families. Then they go visit the actual dogs (at least 3 different ones) before making an informed decision.

That's not how I do it. Not even close. Let me tell you how I became the owner of an adorable little Jack Russell Terrier. She's what I refer to as an "accidental pet."
She’s short, cute and very active. I like to refer to her as my little exercise plan. She can also be very pushy at times.  There’s a game we play, when she gets just a little too insistent on getting her own way. I call it – Who’s the Boss?  Occasionally, she lets me win that one.

Sassi adopted  me at the local  shelter. I think the fates combined to throw us together. I picked out a nice quiet male spaniel  cross, but someone mixed up the paperwork. When I went to pick him up, the volunteer produced this under-nourished critter with the saddest brown eyes I’d ever seen. She wagged her tail and tried to bounce up high enough to lick my face. I was very doubtful, but the nice lady, after apologizing and explaining that the spaniel had gone elsewhere, told me that I could take her home and try her for a week. If it didn’t work out, I could take her back, no questions asked. Can you believe I fell for that?!

Well, I took her home and she ran around in manic circles for several hours before throwing herself on my bed and going to sleep. The  shelter had named her Dash, but after watching her take over my house in less time than it takes me to  cook dinner, I dubbed her  Sassi. Since that day,  she’s become the office greeter, the kayak club mascot and my sounding board when I’m plotting a new story. She makes me laugh, and adapts to just about anything I decide to do. She can swim, ride on the motorcycle, and walk for endless miles on those short leg. She knows how to be gentle with small children, and when the kids are old enough to play fetch she patiently teaches them what to do. My youngest grandson spent countless hours chasing her around the house to put the tennis ball back in her mouth after she’d dropped it at his feet.

Sometimes, when we’re sitting on the sofa sharing a snack in the evening,  I wonder if she snuck into the office at the shelter and switched that paperwork herself. I wouldn’t put it past her!  

Anne Kane

www.AnneKane.com