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THE BRAVE LITTLE TERRIER - RUSHMORE SUNDANCE KID

July 4, 1995 - March 1, 2008

Our "Sundance Kid" was truly the "Light of our Life." We are so fortunate to have had him in our lives. We got him from our dear friend and breeder Flo Clark of Button Top Kennels. We have previously had several of her dogs and they all had the greatest dispositions, bonded with us right away and were all so smart. We wanted a Jack Russell from England and Flo brought Sundance over from England along with several other males for us to look at. When we looked at the others they were all impressive dogs, but when we opened the kennel door and "Sundance" came out he immediately rolled over on his back for us to rub his tummy and we were truly smitten! I remember it like it was yesterday because we always told him he was so special because we chose him and he chose us!

After we arrived home and were bathing him Flo called to remind us that he was raised in a kennel and he was not housebroken and for us to watch him and just show him what we wanted him to do. After his bath Keith took him outside and he did his business and when he came back inside he jumped upon the bed and stretched out and let out a great big sigh of "ummmm!" He was home! The only accident he had in the house was when I left my high top Justin tennis shoes in the bedroom all cleaned and ready to wear but he still smelled the horses on them (we normally keep all of our "horse boots and shoes" in a box) and he urinated inside of the left shoe probably because he was fascinated by the horses because to him they were just "His" big dogs. You have to understand that he was a small Jack Russell so he had to strain to get it perfectly inside. Needless to say I screamed bloody murder at the sight!

He adapted immediately just as all of our "Children" have. He was tenacious when he was competing, courageous, and a perfectionist at whatever he was doing. After he went outside and ate he always cleaned his feet meticulously to the point that he looked like he was chewing on a chicken bone when he got to the back feet, nothing interrupted his cleaning regimen, and he didn't let it. During the day while we were at work we kept him and Chelsea in the large laundry room and left the radio on for them, of course they loved country music and when they heard the music they would always dance. Sure we had our moments and sometimes he would not listen because he thought he knew best, but on a whole he did mind us because he just wanted to be with us all of the time and he wanted so much to please. When he and Sally Ran killed a copperhead snake and we had to rush to the emergency vet in the middle of the night I wanted Keith to get us a police escort and needless to say he thought I was crazy, a police escort for our dogs, but they were our children. We did not even see a policeman on the way and we drove like maniacs to get there. After my freaking out and Keith trying to calm me down they were given medication, the swelling went down we took them home and they were fine. We never had much trouble with snakes in our yard, but that was one scenario we never wanted to repeat.

One Christmas we were visiting our son Sam Dodson and our daughter-in-law Felicity in Galveston and as we were unloading all of the gifts we left Sundance in the truck forgetting about the Christmas ham in the back seat, when it dawned on us we ran to the truck to see him diving into the back seat his nose just grazing the aluminum foil on the top of the ham, close call.

Jack Russells are real clowns and such inquisitive tenacious little dogs. I was making a plume for a pony that pulled a cart for the Old Town Spring Home for the Holidays parade and I had all of my supplies together including two red feather boas. Sundance was watching me like a hawk because of the feathers and not thinking I left one on the sewing box and when I went back to get it I saw a trail of red feathers. Needless to say he had red feathers all over him, but I just picked them up and glued them on the plume, he was only doing what terriers do!

Sundance loved doing his tricks and entertaining everyone. He was a therapy dog and he loved entertaining everyone at the nursing home especially when my mother was there. All you had to do was look into those big brown eyes to know how special he was and how much he enjoyed bringing happiness to everyone! Of all of the tricks he could do our most favorite was to pretend to shoot him and shout "bang" and he would roll over on his back with his little legs still quivering a bit because he was so happy to be entertaining.

When he first saw the horse trailer he was fascinated because he thought it was for him and he inspected it like a sentry. He loved the horses because they were HIS horses and when we had to take one of the colts to Texas A&M for treatment he cried when they put "Rojo" in the stall and proceeded to whimper almost all the way home.

Everyone loved him and when he and "Chelsea" were in the Parade of Barkus in Galveston at Mardi Gras in 2007, "Chelsea" was dressed up like a floozie and "Sundance" was dressed as SuperDog. All of the little kids and grown ups wanted to pet the Jack Russells, they just rolled with the flow.

Yes, our "Sundance" was truly a SuperDog, he even had his picture in the Houston Chronicle dressed as SuperDog. We truly believe he was SuperDog because he battled Cancer for two years and during that time we saw this little white dog so sick sometimes he could not even stand up, but then he would feel better and keep going regardless. We hope this story will give everyone some insight when it comes to pets and cancer.

It all started with an innocent nose bleed. I thought maybe he had banged it against the tree while going after a squirrel and took him to Countryside Animal Hospital immediately. Dr. Carla Hilliard and Dr. Keith French treated him and everyone was so kind and caring. After several x-rays and tests, nothing showed up but we were given some drops for his nose and cautioned that if it continued to bring him back for more tests. After several days, of course it started again and after the second visit the test came back positive for Cancer, he had a tumor real deep in his left nostril; you could not even see it. He had begun sneeze a lot and that would make his nose bleed. Needless to say we were "Shell Shocked."

Our close friend and dog trainer Laura Harvey suggested we try a holistic vet and we found Dr. Marcia Dubois, a holistic vet at Little York Veterinary Clinic and she treated Sundance for several months and he seemed to be much better and again everyone was so kind and caring. Then Dr. Dubois referred us to Greater Houston Veterinary Specialists and Dr. Steven Susaneck, an oncologist who recommended chemo in the IV form.

Sometimes the treatments would hit him pretty hard, but then he would rally and just like the energizer bunny, he would keep on going, he was so incredibly brave through all of this. We kept him on chemotherapy medication and then he went in for five radiation treatments which seemed to stabilize him for a while, but we were always cautious. Let me tell you we did not want him to suffer and his entire attitude was great. We had already made up our minds that if and when the time came we would not let him suffer; we wanted him to maintain his dignity. His oncologist assured us he was not suffering at this time. He had a great appetite and was active. With Cancer you always have to be cautious.

Then we noticed his little eyes were glazing over from cataracts and he could no longer see but he never wavered; he was more cautious but still Terrier Proud. We fixed everything in the house so he could not get hurt and put pillows all around him when he was on the bed so he would know his boundaries and even when he went outside we was cautious and he still looked up like he could see and he was so brave. You would look into those big brown eyes of his knowing he couldn't see you but he knew your voice and you would never know he was blind because he was so courageous and proud, but it just broke our hearts. He truly was The Brave Little Terrier.

He loved eating his Blue Bell vanilla ice cream at night along with Keith, even when he was not feeling good and if you said ice cream his little ears perked up. He fought so hard and we are sincerely grateful for all of the veterinarians, specialists, friends and family that supported him with their prayers and were so kind to us. Countryside Animal Hospital sent us a plaque with Sundance's name on it and they have always done this with other "children" we have lost which is so kind. Dr. Steven Susaneck and his staff sent a beautiful card and Dr. Susaneck also made a donation in Sundance's name to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Foundation.

After receiving the letter about Dr. Susaneck's donation we also made a donation in Sundance's name. We appreciate everything that everyone did for us and our "Beloved Sundance." The support, cards, prayers and all of the remembrances we received in his memory exemplify just how much impact this "Brave Little Terrier" had on so many lives and we are grateful to everyone from the bottom of our hearts. Unfortunately, we had to make a decision that was the hardest we have ever had to make because he began to lose weight and the tumor was growing into his other nostril and into his other little eye. It was by far the hardest thing that we have ever had to do.

We know that God needed a little Jack Russell to entertain in heaven and keep the critters in line and now he has our Beloved Brave Little Terrier "Sundance Kid." We know he has crossed over the Rainbow Bridge and he is healthy and happy again and waiting for us. I am growing my hair to donate to "Locks of Love" which makes wigs for children with cancer in Sundance's honor, this is our way of giving back to everyone whose lives have been touched in some way by Cancer. Sundance is buried in our plot in the front yard next to "Tara" our beloved beautiful Border Collie that he was so in love with.

We know he is playing with Cisco, Glen, Tara and Sally Ran waiting for us to all be together again. We love you "Sundance" and there is not a minute of the day that goes by that we donÕt think about you but we know that you are not suffering anymore and that is the most important thing to us. Chelsea, Suds, Blackjack and Rojo miss you so much too. You are a fighter and a true Jack Russell Terrier that will always be Terrier Proud and we love you so very much. We know there is Blue Bell in heaven and we know you are getting your share.

Love and Happy Trails Always,
Mother & Dad

Elizabeth & Keith Guilbeau

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