Jake came to my house after spending two years (probably in the back yard) at his first home, a few nights at the humane society, and one night at list member Mary Gregory's house. Needless to say, he was confused and not too happy about the situation.

 He had a BIG spraying problem--he sprayed everything with every step he took! He stayed mostly in an x-pen in my living room until he was neutered on Tuesday (I picked him up on Friday). Then he wore belly bands and was given a few corrections, and became a model dog! He was ready for a new family much sooner than I expected, and by that time he had won my heart.

He wasn't a lap dog when he first arrived, but after 3 weeks at my house he sat on my lap every chance he got and gave me kisses all the time. Everyone that met Jake thought he was a great dog and couldn't understand why his family had given him up. They said they were moving--of course he wasn't the first dog they'd turned in to the Humane Society. Jake loved kids and is such an active dog that I felt going to a family with children would be good for him.

Unfortunately, Jake's patellas are a grade 3, and he has a grade 2 heart murmur. At two years old, that probably means puppy mill. I wish we could stop the puppy mills from churning out these dogs--so sweet and innocent and completely undeserving of their fate.

Jake's story has a wonderful ending. He went to a home with two boys, ages 6 & 9, a stay-at-home mom, and a caring dad. They also have a Labrador Retriever. The whole family is crazy about him, and he's finally home! I am thrilled that I could help Jake. If he had gone to a new home straight from the humane society, he may have been turned right back in because of his spraying problem.

Going through rescue first really gives dogs a good chance at making it in their new homes. There is an abundance of knowledgeable people in rescue (I'm not one of them--I depended on others for instruction!) to give advice on how to handle situations such as the spraying problem with Jake. I still get a little teary when I think of Jake, but I know he's in the best possible situation.

Have a good life, Jake!

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Carol Richards