JACK

What was I thinking when  Jack came home. We already had two very spoiled dogs, Augie and Hobbs a pair of miniature dachshunds.  Barky and bossy describes these two, but we adored them and gave into there every whim.
I had lost my beloved dog Molson two years ago. Moey as we called him had survived multiple adoptions, being taken by my eldest son while at college. Living in an apartment with young males(thus the name Molson there favorite beverage) he was not formally trained in everyday "dog" living.
He came to stay with us when Neil's new apartment owner no pet policy was enforced.
After many encounters..no you can't eat at the table... off the table Moey..garbage is off limits..not on the bed Moey....he quickly became my dear friend. My husband always said Moey knew he hit the lottery when he came here. I loved him till he died in my arms at age 14. He is in my closet upstairs and as morbid as it sounds I want his ashes placed at my feet where he always slept, when I leave this earth.
So what brought me to think that this big black hairy Lab named Jack needed a home?? His picture on a local rescue site just haunted me. He was 17 months old with piercing brown eyes that reached out and sent an arrow through your heart. He had a good dog soul, could see it on the Internet. He had been through dog cell training. What is that I thought? Housebroke, trained in verbal and hand commands. Why did he need a home.
Filling out the application was somewhat like filling out adoption papers.  References, home inspection, background check for a dog.What next fingerprints. Wasn't even sure I wanted to do this but after talking with my hubby we started the process, could always say no, we have two dogs already.,
I was absolutely taken aback when we were contacted on Thursday to meet in a neighboring city at 10am Saturday as Jack was on his way across three states..delivered with a group of 10 other rescue dogs to meet there new families.
We were unsure how this would work.  I am somewhat of a compulsive clean person, so immediately replaced my 10 year old Dyson animal with a new Dyson , no dog hair  please on my floors. We purchased a giant crate that took up half of the laundry room, dishes, bedding, food,collar, lead..gee he was getting expensive.What was I thinking. Hubby somewhat worried about the two little dogs, would Jack realize they are off limits and not chew toys. He really wanted a yellow Lab, Jack was coal black. My husband is such a dog person, I concluded over time, he would allow Jack a place in his heart.
So Jack came home one warm Saturday in Maryland . The drive home he just sat at attention, looking all around at cars passing. I wondered if he knew he was going home. The little dogs barked and nipped at him, Jack sat and didn't budge, just allowed there badgering. He walked into our home somewhat nervous, pacing back and forth.  I hoped he would love us someday, and vice verse.
Almost to good, I thought. Doesn't bark, my little dogs bark at everything. Has not messed in the house , little dogs refuse to go outside especially in acid rain... a sore subject as they potty in hubby's garage... but Jack runs out in the rain and does his job. He is somewhat passive.  Youngest dog Hobbs wakens him each morning nipping at his heels to show him out of his crate. Jack will stay there all night with the door open, never leaving until will tell him to. 
Though Jack was fitting in, did he know this was his forever home ? Would he always be just a little distant or allow himself to become part of this family.

Yesterday he stayed in his crate most of the afternoon. When Chris came home from work, Jack did not come out to greet him. Unusual, he seemed fine as we coached him out, and we realized he had taken for the first time a rawhide bone into his cage.  Jack has showed no interest until now in what the other two chew on daily. Then I realized, he knew this was his bone, in his den, his home. Jack figured it out, he knows. The little dogs yipped wanting the bone, he coveted that bone, his prize. Later that night he wandered into the family room, laying on the rug , soaking up the heat from the fire. I think I caught a smile in his eye. Like Moey, Jack knew, he hit the lottery. Animals teach us so much. Life is so uncertain, sometimes we just have to wait, after time we realize we have purpose, allow yourself the love we all deserve.