by Lee Juslin

When Jim Bowie, a little Wheaten Cairn, came into the Col. Potter Cairn Terrier Rescue at the age of nine, he was a happy boy who had clearly not been abused. However, he had some medical issues like Dry Eye and severe skin irritations, which clearly had been neglected.

People-loving and trained to walk on a leash and sit on command, JB required some long-needed medical treatment and a good home where he would get the attention he craved. When Bonnie agreed to foster this little guy, she was also the care giver for her husband, Stephen, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. From the beginning, JB fit right in. He happily spent time sitting on the porch with Stephen while the two watched the world go by. Stephen loved having him nearby and renamed him Boson because, as he told Bonnie, he had had a little dog named Boson as a child.

Boson

Boson loved riding in the car, and as Stephen also enjoyed that, the trio spent lots of time driving the countryside and going into Petsmart and Pet Sense. Meanwhile, Bonnie’s vet, with in-put from the Col. Potter folks, was working hard to correct Boson’s skin issues and deal with his Dry Eye. Unfortunately, when Dry Eye is neglected, it becomes a permanent condition and leads to loss of sight which is what was happening to Boson. However, his buoyant personality along with his love of life and his people helped him to adjust to the changes in his sight, and as Bonnie said, “He’s a pretty fearless, happy boy.”

Meanwhile, no one stepped forward to apply to adopt Boson. No matter because, as far as he was concerned, he was already home with Bonnie and Stephen; it was just a matter of getting them to realize it and take that next step to adoption. Boson did all he could to see that happen – cuddling, rolling over for tummy rubs and bringing toys to encourage play time.

One morning, Stephen had a fall and Bonnie, along with Margaret, the in-home nurse who came to help with Stephen’s care, made him comfortable and called 911. In short order, an ambulance and several police cars arrived. Strangers and neighbors came in and out, sirens blared, but Boson sat calmly on the sofa without barking once and never made an effort to go out the open door. After things calmed down, Bonnie said, “I wasn’t even thinking of Boson in all the confusion, but he sure did me proud. He’s such a good boy.”

Bonnie and Boson

Since that time, Stephen has gone to reside in a twenty four hour care facility, but Boson continues his therapy work with Bonnie. He still loves going for rides and he keeps her company at night while they watch TV together on the couch where Boson snuggles close and goes belly up for the required tummy rubs.

If you would like to learn more about Col. Potter Cairn Terrier Rescue to donate, foster, adopt, or volunteer, visit their website: Col. Potter.

To learn more about Dry Eye in dogs, start here: www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/eyes/c_dg_keratoconjunctivitis_siccav

Want to know how to see your ad like this at the end of an article? Email KRL at life@kingsriverlife[dot]com by replacing the [dot] for more info. 10% of all ad sales goes to animal rescue.

Lee Juslin is a free lance copywriter living in North Carolina with her husband, Scott, and her band of misfits: Tarquin, a Wheaten Scottish Terrier, and three handicapped cats. They can be seen on their website: Hampshire Hooligans. She owns I B Dog Gone, a small embroidery business and is the author of the Nurse Frosty books for children and Frosty’s Story: Tales of a Therapy Dog. She supports a number of national and regional terrier rescue organizations.