Mariah's Story

Mariah Picture Gallery

Jan 9 Update!   Mariah finds a FOREVER home.

Mariah is a 5 year old petite 12 pound female, tri-color smooth coat Jack, who came to us from a breeder who is moving. The Refuge took this little girl into our care because she is handicapped.

We are looking for a VERY special home to take her in. A loving forever home to care for her for her many remaining years - are you that person?

This little JRT sadly has hereditary Primary Lens Luxation, common in terriers. She already has had one eye removed and limited sight in the remaining. We would like to ask someone to open their hearts to this very special, extremely sweet and happy girl. Mariah will be placed in a home as an only dog, or perhaps with a very gentle and kind male who can guide her through the maze of her new home and who will be her leader. This home will need to have a fenced yard where she can run and be a Jack Russell without fear of her losing her sense of her surroundings. Her person will need to have patience while she learns about her new home, plays in the fenced yard and is guided on leashed walks.

She will be quite confused in the beginning; bumping into things, losing her way around her home and needing to know that there is someone there to protect her. She is very astute when you call, knows her name and follows sounds beautifully. She has a lot of energy, runs in the grass like a Jack with a mission and really truly opens her heart to your voice and your touch. She has much love to give, and she is housebroken.

The Refuge will be spaying her next week, and she will be going to see an eye specialist to see if there is any way we could save the remaining eye. If not, we will make her comfortable with what she has left of her sight.

Mariah wants a home, a home before she possibly loses her remaining eye sight. A very special place where she can live out her many years with guidance, love and patient understanding. She is a very very sweet little Jack who had many altercations with other female JRTs in her previous location because she is vulnerable.

Are you the home we are looking for?

We will be taking care of her medical expenses. She will be going to a specialist in Connecticut to see what can be done to repair any damage to her eye. At this time we are not sure if Mariah will be lucky, but we will do the best we can to make her many youthful years comfortable. We will keep you posted on her progress and the vet's conclusions.

Aside from needing help with her care, most of all we need to find her a home. She has as much to give as any other seeing Jack, maybe more.

Progress Reports

Jan 9, 2008

For a little blind dog who worried all of us volunteers at the Refuge, concerned we would not find the best home possible, the most wonderful loving and understanding home, we were wowed by TWO applications to adopt Mariah within two weeks of her arrival. Both homes were sublime, but the first one that applied was one that already knew Mariah and she had already lived in and knew her new "roommate" well.

When Mariah was younger, and still had her sight, her breeder asked someone to keep the dog for three months while she traveled to the South. She told this home they could possibly adopt Mariah when she came back. This wonderful family took Mariah into their hearts and their rescue Jack, Sebastian, thought Mariah was the cat's meow. Who wouldn't?? So they became fast friends, she settled into home life with much glee and enjoyed her time with her adoptive family. When the breeder came back she decided that Mariah was going to be bred again so she was taken back. The family was naturally heartbroken as they had learned to love and cherish this little JRT. Reluctantly they gave her back and so they continued to enjoy Sebastian, but he too was heartbroken.

Then just three weeks ago, a few days after Mariah came to the Refuge to be taken in after her sight was faltering and her home was moving, this family called to ask Dale some questions about Sebastian. Dale is always a great source of advice and answers to Jack Russell questions!!! With 20 years of experience she is the best. Could Dale help with some advice for their dog re: some referenced vet care? During the conversation and some chat about the newly arrived JRTs, Mariah came into the conversation. When they heard this, that "their" Mariah had come to us for adoption they were thrilled. Yes they wanted to take Mariah in, despite her current blindness and her handicap, they would give her the most loving and wonderful home anywhere. Just a week later they arrived. "Dad" held Mariah in his arms and said - "Well, when is she coming home with us?" BUT first Sebastian had to come back and "visit" because the Refuge wanted to make sure that Sebastian would remember Mariah and that he would not be upset by her recent handicap, would he be as gentle and kind as he had been when they were both physically "perfect"?

When Sebastian arrived they were so happy to see each other. Sebastian was gentle and kind. Well that was that, and she was packed off to go home. Everyone sadly said good-bye to the most adorable spitfire of a Jack. Who would have ever thought her future long life would hold such joy into her old age? The reports have been great. Mariah enjoys her fenced yard, has already mastered the dog door, the step into the house, and Sebastian takes care of her like a long lost pal. Sebastian will start to wear a little bell so that when Mariah loses her sight entirely she will know where her best friend is. Mariah shares Mom and Dad's bed with Sebastian and find that this life suits her just fine.

Thank you to all who helped us with our medical expenses for Mariah, it appears she will not be needing any continued major veterinary care as it has been determined by the specialists that she will eventually lose her sight and will, if the pressure becomes too much, have her second eye removed, which the Refuge will cover.

Good-bye Mariah, we will miss your happy nature and your spirit, you have given us hope once again for all those Jacks that wait to find that special forever home. Are you that one?

Donate to Help Mariah

If you can not provide a home for Mariah, please consider a small donation to help with Mariah's medical care. You can make a direct donation (via PayPal).

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	Russell Refuge, Inc. Attn: Donation for Mariah PO Box 725 Rhinebeck, NY 12572

Russell Refuge, Inc. 501(c)(3) Status

Russell Refuge, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. All donations made to Russell Refuge are tax-deductible to the contributor. Donations can be made by Pay Pal on this site or by check payable to Russell Refuge, Inc. and sent to:

Russell Refuge, Inc.
PO Box 725
Attn: Donation for Mariah
Rhinebeck, NY 12572