Stories, through a fantastic lens
ANGELICA R. JACKSON
THE DOGS!
These are the most recent dogs to share my life.
Finnbarr Jackson
We adopted Finn from the Miniature Pinscher rescue, IMPS in July 2018. Like a lot of dogs, he wasn't doing well at the shelter and did not pass any of his assessments. He came home to us, Chloe, and Pippin Kitty. We realized quickly that Finn had some trust issues, but could also be sweet and adventurous.
He was soon going for walks and on camping trips with us. His mischievous side came out in his love for socks! He would try to steal them off my feet, so he could hide them in his bed. He and Chloe were a solid pack, but Finn also loved to greet Pippin--but he did not like it when Pippin would ambush him in the garden.
Whoever had Finn in his first 6 years of life taught him tricks like spin, high five, BANG!, and speak. He was also used to wearing dog clothes, so he has had his photos taken in all sorts of silly costumes. He had his own Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/finnbarrjackson/ He passed away from liver failure a few weeks short of his 13th birthday in 2025
Chloe and Sophie
We adopted Chloe and Sophie from a local rescue in July 2015. They were a breed I'd never heard of, Basset Fauve de Bretagne, and were littermates from a hoarding situation where they had grown up basically feral. They had a home for a year before we adopted them, but were still fearful and unsure about a lot of things. But their sweetness and gentleness shone through.
We always joked that they were a single organism in two bodies because they were so bonded, so when Sophie was diagnosed with a serious liver condition, we did everything we could to make their time together full of things they loved: going for long walks, destroying stuffed toys, and lots of cuddles. They loved to play so loud that you could hear them across the house, and slept curled up together. Sometimes, we wondered if they were mother and daughter rather than littermates, because Sophie loved to lick on Chloe's belly. Whether Chloe wanted it or not!
Sophie thrived for another two years after her expected lifespan but eventually her body gave out. Chloe was an only dog for a bit, but we could tell she wasn't completely happy. She was the perfect mentor dog to bring home an anxious, traumatized minpin to. Chloe just treated Finn like he was a puppy who didn't know better and they soon settled into a rhythm. Chloe was definitely leader of the pack and would go out at dusk to bay and check in with all the dogs in hearing range.
We were able to track down the puppies that Chloe came into rescue with, and arranged a reunion. She could not have cared less, haha. I'm still glad we did it, though, because Chloe was later diagnosed with a hereditary heart condition so we could let the owners of her puppies know what to look for. Chloe eventually succumbed to heart failure and joined her sister at the Rainbow Bridge.
