As I drove home from Arizona with Marshall in a crate and my two flaked out on the seats of the car, I began to wonder if I’d done the right thing.
 
Would I be what this little guy needs? Would I have the patience for all the major steps that were essential for him to take? What if he required more than I could offer? The last thing this little guy needed was to suffer a setback in trust issues. I had no idea how to help him gain the courage he needed to face his fears and his life head on. I hadn’t a clue how to teach him to be a dog.
 
I didn’t need one more thing in my life that required my attention. But this little guy couldn’t go to just anybody. He needed extra time, more space, extreme patience and someone with the knowledge of what a real Jack Russell was supposed to be. I didn’t want to make a snap decision. I’d thought about it for several weeks. I was compelled to act. My greatest fear was that I wouldn’t be enough.

Read or make comments for this article

Yes, Susan, you did ...
Comment from: Patti (Guest)
Yes, Susan, you did the right thing in bringing Marshall home.  You, Sharkey, and Charm will love him back to life and health, and you will give him a quality of life he has never known.  Love IS enough when you follow through with actions, which you always do.
Susan,  Thank y...
Comment from: Danny B (Guest)
Susan,  Thank you for allowing Marshall to adopt you and your family!  You have made a commitment to allow Marshall to have a life that he has not known and deserves!  Marshall, you keep improving and trusting those in your environment!  You all "Can Do It"!  Abby and Gunner agree and say "Hi, Marshall", glad to see you are moving onward and upward!  Hang in there!
Have faith in you yo...
Comment from: Aussie Lady (Guest)
Have faith in you your abilities.Stop worrying about if you are going to alwasys do the right thing,,,just do what feels right and it will be.
 If Sandy did not think you were not what Marshall needed she would not have given him to you. You will get to know what he needs and wants just relax and take your time
He is a very special little guy love him!
You will be great fo...
Comment from: Jayna1019 (Guest)
You will be great for him as will Sharky.  When we first got Luna she was so abused she had no idea how to just be a dog.  She coward in fear, was terrified at every loud noise, and did not like to be hugged or touched.  Three years later she now will greet you at the door and will snuggle up at your feet.  Some days she even comes up on the couch and grabs your arm and wants to be petted.  It is a long road and it is very difficult at times but you can do it.  Having Squirt helped her tremendously.  He did more for her than I ever could.  When she first came to our home he would nudge her out the door and walk around with her.  He would put his body between her and the fence so she could not see the outside.( anything outside a gate made her tremble).  He would bring her toys and wait patiently for her to play.  No matter how many times she would roll over on her belly (this was her subserviant position) he would just sit and wait and keep giving her the toy.  He even would try and show her how to make potty outside and when she would go he would run up and lick her.  Lu, still has issues and always will I'm sure but the love that you get back is worth all the money in the world!  Hang in there, it is a ruff :) but at long last he is finally living the life he should have always had.  All of here will be praying for you guys as you travel down this road.
You will do great wi...
Comment from: Laura (Guest)
You will do great with him...You are a lover of jacks, full of compassion and empathy and just what Marshal needed......:). It takes a special person to do what you did for him....
You have released hi...
Comment from: Max (Guest)
You have released him from a living hell and his life is going to be infinitely better from now on. It may be difficult at times but doing the right thing rarely is the easy path.
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