Brevard Closes Ranks To Help Rocky the Jack Russell Terrier

By  //  March 29, 2014

HELP ME FIND A GOOD FOREVER HOME

ABOVE VIDEO: Rocky the Jack Russell Terrier lived behind a Publix shopping plaza on his own for more than two years. A great number of people cared about him and fed him all those long lonely months. This is a small adaptation of Rocky’s time – please help us find him a good forever home.

Story By Rocky The Jack Russell Terrier • As Told To Maria Sonnenberg

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Okay, I admit it. I have a penchant for trouble. What do you expect? After all, I’m a Jack Russell terrier. My name is Rocky, and I like to think I’ve been a great namesake of that famous boxer in the movies – you know, the guy who just wouldn’t give up?

ROCKY’S GUARDIANS INCLUDE, standing left to right: Carol Grissom, Candi Liford and Angela Sandberg; and kneeling, Dr. Connie Mengering, Rocky and Lynn Miraglia. (Not pictured Bridget Reinert)
ROCKY’S GUARDIANS INCLUDE, standing left to right: Carol Grissom, Candi Liford and Angela Sandberg; and kneeling, Dr. Connie Mengering, Rocky and Lynn Miraglia. (Not pictured Bridget Reinert)

My last adventure, which lasted almost three years, got me in plenty of hot water, but it also gave me the opportunity to meet some very nice humans, and through it all, I didn’t give up, and neither did they.

It all started with a road trip.

I’m a South Florida boy, born about six years ago. My first owners gave me up to a nice lady because they were getting on in years and I’m the first to admit I could be quite labor intensive.

The lady who adopted me came to visit someone she knew in Palm Bay about three years ago, and she thought she’d give me a treat and let me come along for the ride.

I didn’t know it at the time, but was getting into a real mess, I tell you. It turns out I decided to go AWOL around the intersection of Palm Bay and Minton Roads, where humans were building some big shopping centers. I lived there, hiding in the shadows of the palmetto scrub behind the shopping center at the time some of the stores were being built. There was a lot of traffic and commotion, and the interstate is not far at all. I could easily have been road kill.

I really appreciated the travel opportunity. In fact, I was having such a great time in Brevard County that I decided to jump out of the car window and check the place out a little better. The lady chased after me, but didn’t catch me. I wasn’t ready to go back home, you see. She stayed around for a few days looking for me, but she finally had to head back south. I never saw her again.

JACK-RUSSELL-180-1I didn’t know it at the time, but was getting into a real mess, I tell you. It turns out I decided to go AWOL around the intersection of Palm Bay and Minton Roads, where humans were building some big shopping centers.

I lived there, hiding in the shadows of the palmetto scrub behind the shopping center at the time some of the stores were being built. There was a lot of traffic and commotion, and the interstate is not far at all. I could easily have been road kill.

KING OF THE HILL

Do you remember a movie called “Because of Winn Dixie?” It had a dog in it, though not as good-looking as me. Anyhow, you could call my story “Because of Publix.”

I was getting thinner and thinner, and the folks at Publix began feeding me, for which I am eternally grateful. Up to that time, food was really hard to come by, because I had to compete with tons of raccoons that live in the area. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
I was getting thinner and thinner, and the folks at Publix began feeding me, for which I am eternally grateful. Up to that time, food was really hard to come by, because I had to compete with tons of raccoons that live in the area. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

If it hadn’t been for the kind people at the Publix in the Palm Crossings shopping center, I might not be around to tell you my story.

I was getting thinner and thinner, and the folks at Publix began feeding me, for which I am eternally grateful. Up to that time, food was really hard to come by, because I had to compete with tons of raccoons that live in the area.

I didn’t mind the raccoons. In fact, there were some I positively liked, and we would sit atop a little hill behind the Publix, sharing some of the donated kibble.

I was King of the Hill. I’m proud to say I became a landmark of sorts. Everybody knew me, although they all seemed to have different names for me. One of the West Melbourne police officers who had seen me jump out of the car window called me Peanut.

The Publix people knew me as George.
The Publix people knew me as George.

The Publix people knew me as George. Others called me Speedy or Lucky. The delivery men were my friend, as was the man who read the water meter.

One person even called me Daisy. I guess I didn’t let him get too close to me, or he would have noticed I’m 100 percent boy. I can’t really blame him the oversight, because no one could read my real name on my tag because I was too skittish to ever get that close to a human, even though they were being mighty nice to me.

ROCKY GIVES BREVARD LOST PETS THE SLIP

In November of last year, someone told Brevard Lost Pets (BLP) about me. The volunteers at Brevard Lost Pets try to connect lost animals with their owners, primarily via the internet. Brevard Lost Pets friend Cindy Wasden Hartmann borrowed a dog trap to catch me. I gave her the slip.

In November of last year, someone told Brevard Lost Pets (BLP) about me. The volunteers at Brevard Lost Pets try to connect lost animals with their owners, primarily via the internet. Brevard Lost Pets friend Cindy Wasden Hartmann borrowed a dog trap to catch me. I gave her the slip.
In November of last year, someone told Brevard Lost Pets about me. The volunteers at Brevard Lost Pets try to connect lost animals with their owners, primarily via the internet. Brevard Lost Pets friend Cindy Wasden Hartmann borrowed a dog trap to catch me. I gave her the slip.

Someone else put me on Facebook, and another BLP friend hired a trapper to corral me. That didn’t work, either.

You might remember that January this year had some pretty cold nights. One of the BLP folks noticed I was cold and hungry one night during one of the bad cold spells. Lynn Miraglia, who started BLP, put a notice about me on Facebook.

Lynn Miraglia got into the “Let’s Trap Rocky” bandwagon and started coming several times a day out there with me, trying to coax me into a cage and into a new life.

When she heard that there were plans to clear out the wooded area where I lived, she thought it was critical that I give up my vagabond lifestyle. Angela and Lynn, together with Carol Grissom and Candi Liford keep steady vigils with me, all the while trying to get their hands on me.

Angela Sandberg
Angela Sandberg

Bridget Reinert saw the note and came out in the middle of the night with some food and a blanket for me. What’s even more amazing, she wasn’t alone. Angela Sandberg and Shawn Moreno decided to join her, too.

Angie vowed she was going to catch me, so she borrowed a trap and spent numerous hours in the parking lot trying to coax me in. I was too wily.

Lynn Miraglia
Lynn Miraglia

Lynn Miraglia got into the “Let’s Trap Rocky” bandwagon and started coming several times a day out there with me, trying to coax me into a cage and into a new life.

When she heard that there were plans to clear out the wooded area where I lived, she thought it was critical that I give up my vagabond lifestyle. Angela and Lynn, together with Carol Grissom and Candi Liford keep steady vigils with me, all the while trying to get their hands on me.

RENEGADE TO LAP DOG

During the time they were there, they met the numerous people who fed me and worried about me. The bread man, Jeremy Grimes, even asked to be notified if I was ever caught. The West Melbourne police and the strip mall security staff would come by with words of encouragement.

Dr. Connie Mengering
Dr. Connie Mengering

It seems everyone wanted the best for this boy.

A trap borrowed from Jennifer Gardner proved too tough to resist, and I was finally in a safe place. Off I went to see Dr. Connie Mengering of the Brevard Spay/Neuter clinic in Malabar. Within 24 hours, I went from renegade to lap dog.

Dr. Mengering says I’ve gotten very affectionate, although she still won’t trust me off a leash.

To help Rocky find a good home, please e-mail Lynn at sabbyblue@cfl.rr.com, or log on to BrevardLostPets.com
To help Rocky find a good home, please e-mail Lynn at sabbyblue@cfl.rr.com, or log on to BrevardLostPets.com

I’ve had the works, from dental cleaning to vaccinations and worming. And, yes, I’m sad to say, I was neutered, too. That procedure notwithstanding, my new life is warm and cozy, with lots of love, good food and comfy laps.

My former owner was notified about my status, but she had moved on and didn’t want me back. And, I now hear that the nice family that wanted me can’t take me.

Little lost dogs usually don’t have happy endings, but I know there are some great people in Brevard County who would love to give me a forever home – can you please help me?

To help Rocky find a good home, please e-mail Lynn at sabbyblue@cfl.rr.com, or log on to BrevardLostPets.com