All About Jake

This little boy - what can I say about him.  I guess we should start at the beginning.

When I was 5, I begged my mom for a dog.  I wanted someone to play with and loved my aunt and uncle's dog.  One day, we went to the Arlington County shelter and picked out a 9 month old terrier mix named Blackie.  He had been an owner surrender, so my mom was fairly confident that he would be somewhat trained.  After quite a few weeks of wrangling with the shelter since they weren't confident a single mother with a young child could handle a dog, Blackie came home.  I was beyond happy.  He was our little buddy for many years.  And I wish I had a picture on my computer to show you.

Shorty

7 years later, we adopted Shorty from the Rappahannock Animal Welfare League.  We had gone out to get Blackie a Christmas gift and brought him home a brother.  Shorty, a Jack Russell Terrier/Beagle mix, was 6 weeks old and tiny.  He become very attached to Blackie and they loved each other very much.  I also wish I had a picture of the two of them together on my computer.  Usually, they could be found curled up together in a small dog bed, couch, or a normal bed.

The summer between my sophomore and junior year of college, Blackie died.  He had a wonderful 15-year life full of love and we still miss him.  Shorty had a very hard time getting over the loss.  He cried for weeks and would pace everywhere looking for Blackie.  My mom decided to let him be the only dog for a while so he could get all the attention.  I went back to college knowing he was fine and looking forward to breaks when I could see him again.  He even made the trek up to Allentown with my mom for my 21st birthday and spent the day with my roommate (and one of my very best friends), Emily (slight inside joke here: "Does he like people?  Because I like people.").

Abby

Right after I graduated from college, my mom decided Shorty should have a playmate again.  After a failed adoption from the Fairfax County shelter, we went back to the Arlington County shelter and adopted a beautiful beagle/hound mix we named Abby.  We'd never had a female dog and it was striking to see the difference in personality between our female Abby and our males Blackie and Shorty.  She was, and is, very aloof and not a cuddler.  Shorty, of course, attached right away.  It took a while for Abby to get used to having another dog in her space all the time, but she learned to love it.  They eventually slept together.  Well, usually.

After college, I moved home for about 6 months, moved out for 6 months, back home for 6 months, and have now been in my own place with a roommate for almost 2 years.  When I was at home, it was great to have the dogs around.  The first time I moved out, I missed the companionship, but there was a rule against pets in the building.  Once I had moved a second time and into a house, I decided I would get a dog.  But I'm jumping ahead.

This past summer, Shorty died.  He had been sick for many years with a seizure condition and then developed Cushing's disease later in life.  It finally became too much for him.  I miss him every single day, as I'm sure my mom does.  It took a while for Abby to understand that Shorty was gone and when she did, she became a little depressed.  She has since come around and is doing well as an only dog, which she probably will be for the rest of her life.  She has become much more affectionate in the time since Shorty's passing.  She's still not at all a cuddler, but she will now come up for affection more than food, which is pretty big for a beagle (or a hound!).

And now to close the loop with Jake.  Once I moved into this house with my roommate, who has a dog and two cats of her own, I decided I wanted a dog as well.  I missed having someone run up to me at the end of the day when I walked in after a long one in the office.  But I wasn't sure which dog I wanted.  I am partial to beagles, but somehow, this little 6 pound dog stole my heart.  I knew I wanted to adopt from the rescue I volunteer with (LDCRF) because I trust them and trust what they do to ensure adopters get the healthiest dog or cat possible.

I saw Jake at an adoption event and on the website.  He just seemed like the perfect little dog.  However, before I could completely make up my mind, he was adopted by a couple with a little chihuahua who they wanted to have a companion.  I was sad, but realized he would get a good life.  I started thinking about other dogs when I found out he was being returned because the resident chihuahua was not accepting him in the house.  I immediately emailed and asked if I could take him.  After assuring his foster that he wouldn't be coming back, I picked him up on Wednesday about 2 weeks before Christmas.  I was so excited.  We bonded immediately and I changed his name (it has been Spooky because he came in to the rescue around Halloween) to Jake.  Since Snowmageddon happened the two weeks after that, I didn't officially adopt Jake until December 27, 2009.  He is the best Christmas present I could have possibly gotten for myself.  He gets along great with my roommates pets and Abby tolerates him well, and they have finally started playing.

After playing in the snow the weekend after I brought him home.

Jake is now almost two years old, loves his carrot squeaky toy and most any other squeaky toy, will chase birds and squirrels as if they are going out of style, gets into more trouble than necessary when left to his own devices, will not beg me for food, will come back when called or whistled, loves food and treats, and will cuddle all day and night if I let him.  He is the sweetest little boy and I can't wait to see him every day when I get home.  I may have adopted young, but I wouldn't change it for the world.  He is the love of my life.