Note from MSR (the Rescue): Three-year old Jack came to MSR in early October 2005. Jack was owned by a woman who that previous summer, had unfortunately passed away at the very young age of 48. A friend of hers took Jack in but with two other dogs, it was just too much. This had been Jack's third house in his short life.

Jack came to us unneutered, a mass of fur and with an ear infection. After a couple of weeks of TLC by his foster mom & dad, neutering, grooming and treatment for the ear infection, he was ready to meet prospective adopters. We knew Jack was a special boy and held out for just the right home where he would never have to worry about being moved again. We found that home with Wes and Marnie. Here's what they have to say about their life with Jack, the happy Schnauzer.

Marnie and I have talked a little about the changes that have occurred in our little home since Jack arrived. One thing you can say about the Schnauzer personality...you can like it, or you can dislike it, but it is hard to ignore it.

We have found that Jack pretty well fits the profile we had expected. I have had three Schnauzers, and Marnie "enjoyed" Gus living with us until his diabetes and old age caught up with him. We lost Gus last May while we were on vacation, and it was, therefore, not as happy a homecoming as it could have been. It took us several months to decide to adopt a new furry four-footed member of our family. Once we had decided we wanted to adopt again, we were still undecided about getting another Schnauzer. Frankly, we were afraid it wouldn't be fair to the new dog. I think that now both Marnie and I are glad we did adopt a Schnauzer.

It's not that we haven't had some challenges. We still do, and expect to have more, but I think both of us noticed a change in Jack when he finally decided that we were going to be his forever people, and not for just a short time. It was really so gradual, and so subtle, that I think we would have difficulty tying it to a particular time or date...but I think we both notice it.

Maybe it's some tiny difference in the way those big brown eyes look into ours...or the way he puts his paw on Marnie's or my knee... or even though we have told him we don't like to be licked (especially on the face), the way he manages to sneak just one tiny gesture when we are not looking. But I think the one change that really clinches it, is the way he manages to insert his nose just below the arm rest on Marnie's chair and then dramatically rest his chin on her leg or knee,and look up at her with those big brown eyes.

The highest praise has come from our kennel owner, who grooms show Schnauzers. She said Jack is a "very sweet dog!" She should know. Even our two daughters, one of whom has a laid-back black Lab, and the other a very active Airedale think Jack has a very gentle mouth and is a very sweet dog.

He is not without his faults...some of which are pretty dramatic. We are working on his barking, and it almost breaks us up when he tries his best to stifle a good bark into a series of strangled growls. Part of the barking is just sheer Schnauzer exuberance. We always tell people that he thinks he's a Doberman, and we haven't been able to convince him otherwise.

He also still suffers from separation anxiety, which he manifests by shredding any kleenex or tissue paper he can retrieve from the waste basket. We hope that as we leave him more and more, he will finally realize that we always come back for him. Meanwhile, if he has disappeared, we can usually find him by following the trail of shredded tissues.

Jack almost always stays up with us while we watch the first part of David Letterman. He then retires to his bed at the side of our bed, and curls up without further ado. However, sometimes in the middle of the night, if the temperature gets below his comfort level, he quietly leaps up on the foot of our bed and finds a spot between the two of us where he can get some body warmth. He sleeps until we awaken, without disturbing us and is ready to start the day with his breakfast, followed by a romp around the back yard, usually waking up the two Boxers who live next door in the process. Jack is ready for the day! All in all, he fits into our family very well, and one would almost think he had lived with us for years.

I think the high points of Jack's day come with the 8:30 am and the 4 pm walks. We go about two blocks to a semi deserted part of the highway with a grassy lane on one side and undeveloped terrain on the other where he prowls to his heart's content. The only problem is to be sure he rations his body fluid distribution so all the appropriate spots can be suitably marked.

Jack is very much a part of our family, and we thank you for allowing us to adopt him.

Wes and Marnie Kunkel

Hi: This is Jack, the happy Schnauzer. I love my forever people a lot. Thank you for letting me come live with them. They are gradually learning all about the things that I want them to do for me, and, with a little more effort, they will be good people parents. It's a hard job to teach them, but they are fast learners! I'm happy!

Jack, the happy Schnauzer