My JRT, My Maddie...the Kleptomaniac

by Kyleen Jiannine
(Paden CIty, WV USA)

Maddie as a Baby

I am the owner of a house where I live with my three Jacks. Madigan (Maddie) is the mom of Kyzer, and Lizzie. Her third pup, Seamus, died last year of parvo. Anyway, Maddie has a great deal of obsessive-compulsive behavior, as do many terriers. While she is now about 4 years old, it's only been the past 2 years that her thievery has gotten so bad I need to constantly be on guard. She, poor thing, seems compelled to steal, and then hoard her prize. What does she steal, you might wonder. What doesn't she steal, I might respond. She has been known to take contact lens cases and hearing aids: her most expensive takes. She has a penchant for shiny things: jewelry, chip bags, etc. If she can get to a stuffed animal that belongs to her son, Kyzer, she'll run off with it and quickly kill and gut it. Where does she take these treasures, you might ask. Right now, she has a main stash under my bed and a secondary stash under an end table in the living room. She knows if you tamper with it, or remove objects. She'll go under, and come back out with a look of stunned frustration. I can almost hear her saying, "How could you?" And does she have style. She holds her head high as she makes off with a cherished item. She is a sweetie just a compulsive stealer. I love her anyway!!!