Jack's immunity was established after she was bitten by a dog with POS in the Cascade Mountains. During the same period, Jack was apparently attacked and beaten by a person or persons unknown. After the beating, Logan brought her to his father, Dr. Craig Westerly, an epidemiologist who specializes in prion diseases. Recognizing her immunity, Dr. Westerly brought Jack to Portland University for medical attention and further study. There, however, her story almost ended when she was shot at by Rudolph Stagg, a home security consultant and self-proclaimed dog killer from Redmont, Oregon.
According to witnesses, Mr. Stagg burst into the office of Dr. Harold Marks and fired at Jack with a Colt .357 Magnum. In a dramatic display of bravery, Logan Moore dove in front of the bullet in order to protect his dog. The bullet punctured his left lung and left him in a coma for twenty-one days.
Mr. Stagg, who had been wanted by the FBI in connection with the formation of armed vigilante groups aimed at killing dogs infected with POS, was apprehended seconds after the shooting. He died five days later, on August 2, as a result of POS.
As a result of her injuries, Jack slipped into an irreversible coma on August 1. She remained on life support until her death. But scientists were able to extract cells from her healthy tissue and clone them in an effort to develop an antidote and vaccine for POS.
According to Dr. Westerly, though, the doctors kept Jack alive for two months not for scientific reasons, but because of a promise Dr. Westerly had made to his son.
“I told Logan that we would keep her alive until he was well enough to come visit her and say good-bye to her properly.”
Logan was at her side when she expired.
On Friday, October 2, the CDC announced that prototypes of both a vaccine and an antidote had been successfully tested.
“The medicine has already proved to be extraordinarily effective,” the statement read. “We hope it will be quickly approved by the FDA so that it can be made available to the general public.”
As a direct result of the promising news, the governors of California, Oregon, and Washington have begun the withdrawal of the National Guard from major cities on the West Coast. All three thanked Jack and Logan in separate statements.
“I think we can all learn something from the sacrifice my son made,” Dr. Westerly said in a statement yesterday before departing for Newburg to attend Jack's funeral. “Thanks to him, we can look forward to the future—a future when we can once again own and love and care for dogs without fear. He's a true hero. As is Jack. We will never forget her.”
When asked for a comment, Logan said, “I'll never forget her, either.” After a pause, he added, “I don't think I'm a hero. If I'm a hero, then we're all in trouble.” He declined to comment further.
Jack was honored in a private ceremony by the Moore family and Dr. Westerly.
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