BARN DOGS

MEET JAXX AND GOAT

Two rescue dogs with OPPOSITE PERSONALITIES enjoy the good life in California.

JOHN BRAGG is a wellknown West Coast hunter-jumper trainer and the owner of Bridgeport Farms in San Juan Capistrano, California. TROY CHRISTIANSEN is an attorney in Beverly Hills and an amateur rider. We asked them to tell us about Jaxx and Goat, their latest rescues from Thrive Animal Rescue, founded by CeCe Durante Bloum and Georgia Spogli. Thrive comes to the aid of abandoned and discarded dogs of all breeds, ages, and situations by providing medical aid, love, and support.

John Bragg’s life has been filled with dogs. “My first dog that I considered as my own was a Jack Russell when I was 17 that lived to be one month shy of 20,” John says. “Many other dogs followed, including a yellow lab. CeCe Bloum (of Thrive Animal Rescue) called me and said she had a senior rescue, a 10- or 11-year-old yellow lab. I had him for a couple of years, and he was probably one of the best dogs I’ve ever had in my life to date. And when he passed on, we waited a little while, and then CeCe found Jaxx.” He had terrible mange, and they weren’t sure what he would look like, but, John says, “He turned out to be beautiful. Everyone comments on what a cool-looking dog he is.” When CeCe picked him up, he was in very bad shape and stayed at the vet clinic for two weeks. “If I sent you a picture from the day they picked him up, and a month later, and now, you wouldn’t believe the difference in the way he looks,” John laughs. “He’s definitely a handful, but he’s almost three now, and he’s turned out to be such a great dog. At horse shows, he’s either back at the barn, or he’s on my golf cart up at the ring. He goes everywhere with me.”

“Goat has a bit of a different life,” says Troy. “He’s definitely a horse show dog. He’s grown up at the horse shows with us for the last four or five years, but during the week, he comes to my office in Beverly Hills—just kind of curled up under the desk, and he sits there and watches me work.” When they adopted Goat, his original name at the shelter was Bolt because, as Troy explains, “He would run away all the time. When we got him, we’d take him to a horse show, and he’d run away from us and go back to CeCe because he considered her his mom. It took a while for him to stop running away.” “Goat doesn’t like many people.

He’s a nice little dog, but he gravitates towards just a few people in his little inner circle. And that’s about it. He’s not one of those dogs that go running up to everybody to say hello.

Jaxx is the opposite. I feel like he might have some Labrador or something in him because he runs up to everybody and wants to say hello.”

John interjects, “Well, not everybody, but all kids—he loves kids and wants to play with them.” John and Troy can’t say enough about Thrive Animal Rescue. “There are so many people at the horse shows that have Thrive dogs. CeCe has fully dedicated herself to this. It’s been incredible to watch her expand the organization. Thrive brings dogs to the shows, sets up fundraisers, and travels all over Southern California and other states to rescue dogs.”

Troy says, “I remember early on, I helped them set up the formation of the company. It was just so tiny, but things have grown and grown. I’m guessing their success rate is 99 to 100 percent. They always seem to be able to place the dogs in great homes. It’s amazing to watch how they do it. Their website explains their process of placing dogs and working as a personal shopper for adopters, ‘If you’re commited to rescuing a dog, Thrive will keep your preferences in mind as we visit the shelters, then contact you when we think we have a suitable match that fits your application.’”

“Yes,” John agrees. “They take their time to make sure that the forever home is actually forever.”

John Bragg and Jaxx; Troy Christiansen and Goat.

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