Spotlight Terrier: Taz

Jack Russell Terrier in need of medical assistance
Last Update:	July 14, 2006
Location:	Virginia
Dog Name:	Taz
Sex:	Male
Age:	1 Year
Known Issues:	Broken Hip; Nerve Damage; Need surgery
Background
Taz is a 1 year old male who was hit by a car and suffered a broken hip. He also has some nerve damage in his other leg which may or may not heal in time. The owner took him to their vet and had decided to have him euthanized once they learned the cost of repairing his broken hip. At this time, Taz is able to handle his bodily functions and get around by running on his front legs (what a trooper!!). The vet contacted Russell Rescue to see if they could help since she felt Taz was a very sweet dog and worth saving. The surgeon agreed to do the surgery at cost, the vet offered to pay for the anesthesia and medication if Russell Rescue could pay for the surgery on his hip. The surgeon estimates the cost to be around $1200 - $1500. Progress updates from will be posted as we receive them.
Progress Updates
July 14, 2006 - From Taz Hi Everyone, I wanted to write to say that I am doing great. I am trying to stay cool cause it sure gets hot. I have gained more weight and muscle. My mommy says that I look so good. She calls me her "boy". I think that means that I am special. My mommy and daddy really do love me. Did I tell you that I get to go for rides in the car with my mommy? She is home more now and when she goes visiting, I sometimes get to go. Mommy says that I ride real good in the car. We had a foster Jack Russell come stay with us for a little while. I really do miss her. She was great. We played and played and played. At our new home, I get to explore all kinds of things. Of course, my mommy and daddy are with me when I go outside and guess what, I don't have a leash. You see, I am doing much better yet I still do not have full use of my foot or I mean paw. My mommy works with me everyday and one day my paw will be just like all the other doggies. I get to wear a special boot on my paw to protect it from things like rug burns. At least that is what my mommy told me. I just like being able to walk and run. Well, I guess its about time for bed. My mommy and daddy are heading upstairs and I just love sleeping with them. Did I mention that Cleo sleeps with us too. I sure do think she is pretty. Cleo thinks I am good looking too. At least that is what she told me.... Love, Taz
April 21, 2006 - From Taz It's me Taz. I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know that I am doing GREAT!!!!! I just love our new home. Cleo likes it too. My mommy and daddy have two English Springer Spaniels named Dozer and Lady. Mommy told me that Dozer got his name because he slept all the time when he was a puppy. He is my friend too. Just to let you know that Cleo is my favorite. She gets to sleep right next to me at night along with mommy and daddy. Sometimes I share mommies pillow with her. Mommy doesn't know that I am sleeping on her pillow until she wakes up and sees my nose about 1/2 inch from her face. I don't think I have ever startled her. Sometimes I will sleep at my daddy's feet. He says that I am his heating pad... not sure what that means. Anyhow, I was finally able to climb the stairs that lead to the second floor - that is where we all sleep. You see, my mommy and daddy had to carry me up the stairs because I just could not figure it out. But now I CAN!!!!! My mommy bought me a doggie bed. I get to nap right next my mommy while she is on the computer. My mommy and daddy are thinking about going to the Jack Russell trials this June. They might bring me and Cleo... I hope we get to go. It would be fun to see everyone. My mommy says that she is going to make me a scarf that has my name on it so everyone will know me. If you recognize me, please come say hi to me. Oh, I almost forgot, I think the trials are in Maryland. Well, I need to go check on Cleo. I have to make sure that everyone is ok and not getting into things. Thank you again for helping to pay for my doctor bills. Love Taz
January 13, 2006 - From Taz Happy New Year Everyone! It’s me TAZ! I am doing great. I can actually run around the house now and jump on the couch with out any help from my mommy or dad. And guess what, I jumped on the bed the other day. All by myself. Of course I need a running start. So much has happened since the last time I wrote. We moved. Yep, to a big old farm house. My mommy says that we have to stay in the guest house because the men are working in our house to fix it. You see, the house is over 100 years old. It is so big I can hardly wait to go exploring. There are lots of smaller buildings on the property too. I get to explore. We are kind of close to the road so my mommy keeps Cleo and I on a running leash. My grandpa says that he is going to put up an iron fence so we can run without our leashes. Anyhow, I had a great Christmas. My mommy had to chase me do the hall because I had a Santa decoration in my mouth. I thought it was food. Oh well. I want all of you to know that I have put on weight. My mommy tells me every day that I look very handsome. Cleo thinks I am handsome too. She is starting to pay more attention to me. I have met the other family dogs and I am getting better at not being so excited. Part of that is from being at the hospital so long. I was scared at the hospital. My mommy tells me that I do not have to be scared any more. I am in my forever home. Oh, I almost forgot. The hospital that helped me; they still have my picture all over the place. And the doctors remember me… Thank you again to all of you who help Russell Rescue. I love all of you. Happy New Year. Love Taz.
September 10, 2005 - From Taz Hi everyone its me Taz! I am doing great. I have gained weight and I can even climb onto the couch. I have to wear a boot on my one paw because I still walk kind of funny and the boot protects my foot. And sometimes my mommy catches me licking my paw. The vet says that it takes a long time for the feeling to come back once there has been injury. I also have to wear this cone looking thing on my head so I will not take the boot off and lick my paw. I can run really fast with my cone on and I can also eat with it on too. My girlfriend, Cleo, had to go to the emergency room last night and guess what, my mommy and daddy took me too! I was worried about Cleo. The vet said that a spider had bitten Cleo. You see, her chest swelled and she started to shake. Mommy was real worried. Mommy found one small hole in Cleo's chest. Good thing it wasn't two hole cause that means a snake bite. I told Cleo to stay away from the shed but she just would not listen to me. Anyhow, Cleo is fine now and I chase her all over the house. Oh, did I tell you that I sleep with my mommy and daddy. I even get my own pillow and sometimes I share my mommy's pillow with her. I know that I am talking real fast but that is part of being a Jack Russell. I love all of you and thank you again for saving my life.
June 19, 2005 - From Taz Hello all my Russell Rescue friends. Here I am at my new home. As you can see, I am happy and content and doing very well. I absolutely adore my new "Daddy John"! He fell in love with me when he and Cristi were fostering me and was the one who begged to keep me. I'm so glad he did because I'm in heaven now. Thank you again for all your donations and prayers.
June 15, 2005 - From Taz Hi to ALL of my wonderful friends. I am doing great. I have started using both of my legs. I love to chase Cleo around the house - Cleo thinks that I like her but I am playing "hard to get"!!! I get to ride in the car with my mommy and daddy. I like to go to the river and play in the sand. My mommy still has all those thick quilts around the house for me to lay on. I have gained some weight and I am playing more and more each day. My mommy told me that this month I go to the doctor to get checked for heartworms - she says that this happens about once a year even when a doggie is already on heartworm pills. Thank you for saving my life. I am so happy now. And I don't hurt. I forgot what it was like to run and play but now I am remembering. I LOVE ALL of you. TAZ
June 10, 2005 - From Taz Hello all of my wonderful friends at Russell Rescue! I wanted to let you know that my foster home (especially my foster Daddy) was so taken with me that they decided to adopt me! I have several Jack Russell buddies to play with and a wonderful family who loves me! Momma Cristi wasn't sure about adopting me since she was afraid she wouldn't be able to continue to foster but Daddy John really, really, really loved me and so he said she could still foster if they adopted me. Thank you all for helping me and for your donations to my cause. God bless each and every one of you!
May 20, 2005 - From Cristi and Taz Hi Everyone! I want to thank you for helping pay for my surgery. I am feeling much better. My new foster mommy picked me up on Saturday May 14th. I was a little scared but I knew that she loved me as soon as she saw me. And best of all, my foster mommy has a female Jack Russell who is beautiful. I think I love her too. Her name is Cleo. We play together and I started running around the house today. Sometimes I get tired and have to rest. My foster mommy has big thick quilts laid around the house for me to rest on. I love being in the country. I have never smelled so many different smells. And I got to meet two bunny rabbits who love to play with me. My foster mommy has two very big cats who like hanging out with me when I go outside. I don’t poop in my crate anymore. I am on what my foster mommy calls a schedule. Best of all, I am only in my crate at night when my family is sleeping and when my foster mommy has to go to work. Most of the day and evening, I get full run of her house. I really want all of you to know how much I love you for helping me. I love each and every one of YOU! Love Taz Everyone, I would also like to thank you for helping Taz. He is very special. The minute that Taz came into our family he just fit right in. My Cleo and Taz could pass as brother and sister. They get along great. Taz is very smart. He knows the basic commands – sit, shake and no. Taz let me trim his nails last night. I know he is feeling much better. He likes sleeping in his crate. He shares his food and water with Cleo and she shares her food and water with him. Taz keeps himself groomed. He loves to cuddle. Now that Taz is on a schedule he is housebroken. Taz loves being part of the family. He also shares his toys. Even with his injury, Taz is pretty laid back. He belongs on a farm not the city. Cristi - foster "mommy".
May 16, 2005 - From Taz I am now living with a new foster home and have new foster parents - Cristi and John. I really like everyone and they have lots of dogs to play with. Cristi discovered that I LIKE cats and am friendly to them. I also was OK with their rabbits (but they were in a cage). I really like other dogs, too. I can be a bit suspicious of strangers at first but I took to Cristi and her daughter right away. I'm still not too sure about John but I think he's OK. My foster home wants to keep me for a while to work with me since I've spent so much time in a crate lately and need to get out and about more. My foster home thinks I'm very sweet and are happy to have me with them for the time being. I am starting to use the leg upon which I had surgery but there is some nerve damage in my other leg so the vet isn't sure I will use it. Only time will tell, she says. You see, when I had my broken hip, I learned to walk on my front legs so I get around just fine without it!
May 7, 2005 - From Susan, Taz's Foster Mom As much as we would like to foster Taz long term, we are going to be out of town for at least a week starting the 13th. I am very sorry to let him go, but he needs to get into a regular home. He is still apprehensive about strangers, but once he trusts you he does not forget and you can do anything to him. I had a friend from work come over and he was trotting around her, excited to see her, but was growling at strangers that came in. He is getting around much better. He is using the leg he had the surgery on. He still cannot feel his other leg, but he does use it to balance on. He is a great cuddlebug he follows me around the house and lays right at my feet. If I put him on the couch with me he just snuggles and doesn't move. He still loves the other animals, too. He is trying to play with the kitty!
April 29, 2005 - From Susan, Taz's Foster Mom Taz is doing well. I took him home with me yesterday for the first time. He really likes the other dogs, doesn't mind the kitties, and wants to play. He is not using his back legs, but I have started his physical therapy. He is quiet in his kennel and now waits to go outside to potty. He's a little wary of new people just now because of all the pain with the initial injury, plus the surgery but I'm sure he'll be fine with strangers once he settles more into a home routine.
April 24, 2005 - From Taz I had my surgery on Friday at 3:00 p.m. (my right rear leg). Friday night I was in some pain but the medicine they gave me helped. I felt bright and alert on Saturday and happy to get attention from the folks at the Woodbridge Animal Hospital. I just LOVE attention - no matter how bad I feel! The funny thing is, now that I can't use my right rear leg, I'm starting to use my left rear leg a little more. The doctors say this is very good since that's the leg that had some nerve damage. After this week-end, I hope to go to my temporary foster home - Suzy -- who is a vet tech at the animal hospital. She will take care of me until I can go to my long term foster home. Everyone at the vet hospital has been so kind and loving to me and they seem to really like me. Thank you to all the doctors and technicians who are helping me now and thank you to my new Russell Rescue friends. Love, TAZ