For the Love of Bruiser

Our family dog is a Jack Russell Terrier by the name of Bruiser.

For those of you who aren't in the know, let me explain a little something about this breed of dog.

They are small, but they don't know it or act like it. Bruiser, for instance, weighs all of 16 pounds, but he's been known to face off with dogs that weigh 100 pounds or better.

I really am a responsible pet owner. Today is Bruiser's 3rd birthday, and he is not neutered because I always wanted to breed him and have one of his puppies.

But that's never come to fruition. So Bruiser remains unaltered, and I have no puppies.

The fact that he is not neutered also means he's crazy.

Our front door has no screen door. Our 7-year-old son and his friends, as kids do, run in and out continuously.

Bruiser has taken to laying in wait for the kids to open the door, and when they do, he bolts like a bull coming out of the chute at a rodeo.

Three times now, Bruiser has taken off and gotten himself lost. Each time we lost him, I called my buddies at the Humane Society to let them know that Bruiser was on the loose. I've left my number so that when someone calls to say they've found a wayward Jack Russell Terrier, they know who to tell them to call.

The first time, he was found by a wonderful family. Bruiser had been gone for two days when a very nice man called me at work to let me know he thought he had my dog.

Apparently, this wonderful man rescued Bruiser from two very large dogs Bruiser, not realizing he was not big enough to do so, had challenged.

The man and his son brought Bruiser back home to us. The man commented on what a wonderful personality Bruiser had. If they hadn't found his owner, he told us, they were set to keep him and name him "Jack Bauer."

The second time he got away, Bruiser was gone for a day and a half. He found his own way home that time ... I woke from a dead sleep at 3 a.m. when I heard him barking at the door. He was mud from head to toe ... he'd apparently had himself quite a time.

This last time he escaped, Bruiser was gone for three days. I was sure I was never going to see him again when my friends at the shelter called me to tell me a lady had called to say she'd found a Jack Russell wearing a choke chain collar.

I called the number they gave me, and a very nice lady told me she'd had him, but that she opened her door and he'd run away just before I called. I was crestfallen.

But she called me right back to say he'd returned.

I went to pick him up and, like the man who'd found him the first time around, she made mention of the fact that my dog was "a love." She'd been calling him "Jumpin' Jack Flash," because he jumps in the air like he has springs in his feet (this cracks people up who've never met Bruiser before, but we're used to it).

I apologize to everyone for Bruiser's behavior. He doesn't mean to be a pain in the butt. He is a very sweet dog who does bonehead things.

But we, like those of you who have found him and brought him back to us, love his sunny disposition and affectionate nature. My husband, son and I realize you could have been dishonest and kept our family pet for yourselves.

We thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for reuniting us with our family member. People like you are such blessings.

The heartbreak of losing a pet is devastating. We appreciate so much your part in making sure it didn't happen to us.

Bruiser has an appointment for a neutering and microchipping next week. I'm trying to find a place where I can get a tag made for his collar with his name and our phone number on it.

We are taking every precaution to make sure Bruiser does not get away again. But if he does and you manage to catch him, please just call me here so I can come get him.

I know he's a great dog, but he's also a member of our family.