I adopted Jackie from my local animal shelter in January, 2002, when she was about six months old.  She is one of the most unique dogs I've ever encountered; she's ridiculously clever and she has markings unlike any I've ever seen on a dog before.  In fact, I named her Jackie, as in "Jackal," because she looks more like a wild animal than she does a domesticated house pet.  She's small-- about forty pounds-- but she's fearless (and terribly aggressive), and would gladly put her life on the line to protect her property and the people she loves.