EVERETT — For weeks, Brittney Davison texted her sister, Brianne, at college: The puppy is coming.
Brittney, 15, finally got the 2-month-old Yorkshire terrier-Chihuahua mix Friday from the Everett Animal Shelter. She named him Russell, after the Seahawks quarterback.
The shelter donated Russell to Brittney, who is recovering from a brain tumor discovered last year. She also has a condition that affects her nervous system. She’s been on a feeding tube for months and has had multiple surgeries, with more hospital time planned next year.
The family already has one rescue dog, 9-year-old Dalmation-mix Riley, but Riley doesn’t like the noise of the feeding tube pump.
Brittney, the third of Stacy and Neil Davison’s four children, has kept a 3.9 GPA and a modified schedule at Glacier Peak High School. She likes science classes the best and wants to become a doctor. She knits and she bakes. She made an elaborate, two-tiered cake for Brianne’s 18th birthday.
Her condition makes walking and sitting up exhausting. She needs to slowly increase her activity. Russell will help with that. They took their first walk in their Silver Lake neighborhood Monday.
For now, Russell is content lying on his back on a loveseat with Brittney and Brianne while they rub his belly. His cuddles come with sharp teeth and wet kisses.
Russell was “the best Christmas gift I could ask for,” Brittney said. She sees a little Seahawks jersey in his future.
Brittney’s mom recently found her sitting on her bedroom floor, holding up her laptop to play dog-themed music for Russell, who was in his crate.
“He was zonked, sound asleep, from listening to this puppy Christmas music,” Stacy Davison said. “I was like, ‘This puppy is loved.’ ”
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.
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