Sixteen-year-old Cassie and 12-year-old Ryley still report for work at the Screenflex Calgary warehouse every day.
At 16 years old (that would be 112 dog years) Cassie is semi-retired and sleeps most of the day. She can be counted on to make an appearance at lunch time and again at about 5 o’clock when it is time to go home. Sometimes she’ll drag herself out of her bed to greet the mailman or the FedEx driver because they always have dog biscuits.
At 12 years old (that would be 84 dog years) Ryley is still active. His main contribution is tearing the shrink wrapping off incoming shipments but he too keeps an eye open for the mailman and the FedEx driver.
Both are retired athletes and were very enthusiastic and successful competitors at Jack Russell Trials. Cassie was particularly fast and won many racing ribbons. Their favourite events were the obstacle races, flat races and anything else that involved running at full speed, jumping, recklessly hurling their bodies about and vicious arguments with fellow competitors. Cassie has scars and she limps, while Ryley occasionally has to visit Dr. Judy, his chiropractor, because of the lingering effects of vigorous competition in those wild younger days.
But in spite of advancing years, the terrier instinct remains strong. Squirrels, gophers and mice are still in mortal danger. In the summer, Ryley earned a bone from a Screenflex business neighbour for catching and removing a gopher from a furniture showroom.