Action Jackson has a new nickname, Puppy. He’s not, but we call him that because he has an innocent look and a sweetness about him that makes you forget, at least for a moment, there is a terrorist that resides within. After four months as the newest member of our pack and our first holiday season together, I thought I would share with those that haven’t yet taken the plunge in the joys of owning a pound puppy shelter dog. Action Jackson takes the boundaries of our house and yard that is surrounded by the dog fence seriously, and if you are on the outside of the fence you will be treated to a display of hackles and gruffness that would scare the bejeebers out of the steeliest of souls. I still haven’t convinced our mailman that once you’re on the inside of the fence Happy Jack turns back into a love monkey (he’s just going to take my word for it), but Action Jackson is not going to stand by and allow anyone to take him away from paradise. I mean, who in their right mind would give up your place in a home where your mom hand dips toilet water for you when your legs go bad and you can no longer navigate the carpetless floor in the bathroom to get a drink? He’s found his happy home, the place he wants to spend the rest of his days, sharing a love so deep that there is literally no limit to lengths he will go to let you know how important you are to him. He tells me so every time he walks up and puts his chin on my knee and gives me that look. Of course, sometimes it means he has to go out, but fortunately I know the difference. On special occasions like Christmas I bake cherry custard pie, an old family recipe that has been handed down through the generations since before the Civil war days. When enough time had elapsed to warrant a second piece (we set a time limit so it’s not inhaled at first bite), there was the pie pan on the floor, and Jack looking everywhere except into my eyes. I only make it once a year and since you won’t find it anyplace else except at our family gatherings, there were many stern glares his way but he didn’t seem to notice. Christmas is a special time when my mom brings the bubs the big bag-o-toys that Santa mistakenly delivers to her house. Budward had gathered all the toys in a pile in front of him but Action Jackson managed to steal one away. The next thing you know he’s running the length of the house, room to room, back and forth, all the while throwing the toy in the air, making it squeak with every catch. How can you not feel the joy? And please don’t let my description of his terrorist qualities scare you away from a shelter dog because he has as many redeeming qualities as those from the dark side. He’s the perfect fit for our pack. He understands that he’s number three in pecking order and (most of the time) acts accordingly. When the weather is bad he comes into the house and waits to have his feet cleaned before proceeding, unlike his pack mates that have never fully mastered the mudless approach to carpet care. He’s learned to eat leftovers by gently removing them from the fork, almost as if he’s eaten off silverware all his life. Even on my darkest days when I feel like I just can’t put one foot in front of the other, he brings me out of my funk and puts a smile on my face. Author Peter Mayle wrote “A found dog never takes anyone or anything for granted. Somewhere in the deep recesses of the orphan psyche, never entirely forgotten even after years of good living and kindly, obedient owners, memories of hard times linger. And this…tends to give lost and found dogs a special appreciation of what the world can offer.” Just as Jack cherishes us we cherish him also. We didn’t realize when we picked up that smelly bag of bones from the high kill shelter that we were the ones that would be saved. He brought laughter into our lives during a time of sadness when there was no joy in our hearts. He makes us see the world differently and we are better people because of him. We are blessed beyond words that on that fateful day I saw a random email showing a one year old white German shepherd terrorist that would die if I didn’t intervene, even though we weren’t ready to bring a new dog into our home. Open your heart and allow life to take you to those places you’re not prepared to go and you’ll be rewarded with riches that defy description. My prayer is that in this New Year you are fortunate enough to be adored by your very own Happy Jack. If you haven’t yet found this special joy in your life, you’re only a shelter visit away from this life changing event. And never forget, it is only through you that the Randolph County Humane Society continues to save lives, one by one.
The first holiday with our pound puppy shelter dog
Advertisement
