Information
Jakey Boy
Legacy Name: Jakey Boy
The
Spectrum RuffieOwner:
TaliAge: 7 years, 10 months, 1 week
Born: June 7th, 2016
Adopted: 7 years, 10 months, 1 week ago
Adopted: June 7th, 2016
Statistics
- Level: 1
- Strength: 10
- Defense: 10
- Speed: 10
- Health: 10
- HP: 10/10
- Intelligence: 0
- Books Read: 0
- Food Eaten: 0
- Job: Unemployed
This is a place I am all too familiar with: the kennel at the animal shelter. A small and uncomfortable bed sits at the back corner of the kennel, but it sure beats the cold concrete below my paws. I had just been removed from this shelter not even two weeks ago and brought into the home of an older couple. Life was great! I got to go outside practically whenever I wanted and sleep on the soft carpet. But now I have been returned, and unfortunately, I know exactly why. See, I am a bit...submissive, you could say. When someone bends down to pet me, I kind of get really timid and have an accident on the spot. I definitely had my fair share of accidents even for the two weeks I lived with that couple. They must've gotten irritated and returned me.
Christmas is in a couple weeks. Every dog here dreams about being in a warm, welcoming home for the holidays. I had my chance, but now I lost it.
A week has passed now and a human walks into the room. All the dogs begin to bark manically because what else is there to do when you're cooped up in a kennel? To my surprise, she walks up to mine first. She slips a short leash onto my paper collar and I quickly leave the kennel, anxious to stretch my short legs that a corgi has. I lead the way to the back door to go outside, but she actually pulls me into a different direction. Confused, I let her lead.
We walk into a small room and to my surprise, a family is waiting in the room: a mom with two teenaged kids, it appeared. The girl lights up the moment she sees me. At first, I run over, anxious for some attention. But once that hand reached out for me, I can't help but to let my ears lie flat against my head and have an accident right there on the floor. "Oh, Jake," my handler says. I instantly feel embarrassed when I notice that she actually has a mop on standby to clean up my mess. To my surprise, though, the girl pets me on the head anyway. I turn back to look at her and pant happily.
Despite my accident, things seem to be going smoothly. A few of the staff are talking to the girl's mother at this point. They start to talk about the corgi breed. Then I hear them say words like "independent" and "aloof" and when the mother's expression begins to look uncertain, I become worried. Even the girl looks defeated as she looks to her mom and then to me. The handler pulls on my lead and I give. She brings me around back and puts me back in the kennel. "One moment, boy." She leaves the room. I anxiously wait for minutes and then hours, but before I knew it, it was time for the handlers to lock up the shelter for the day. I let out a whine. Looks like I scared another family away.
Christmas and New Years come and go. We are a few days into the new year when our handler walks into the room. As routine, all the dogs start to bark at her presence. She skips the first kennel that she usually starts with and comes up to me instead. She puts the leash on my paper collar and she looks a lot more excited than usual. "I've got some good news, Jake!" Her happiness makes me happy as well and I pant with excitement. I race out of my kennel like I normally do. Hopefully the snow from yesterday was still on the ground. I get ready to pull to the back door, but she doesn't let me out and leads me to the front of the shelter instead.
To my surprise, there stood the family from a couple weeks ago. The girl is excited yet again to see me and eagerly bends down to pet me. I was so shocked that I couldn't even have time to think about being submissive this time. I bury my head into her hands and she pets me happily.
Her mother bends down to pet me as well. "Oh Jake, I am so sorry, it is all my fault," she tells me. "They scared me when they were saying that corgis don't really care for human interaction, but Maria made sure to do her research and tell me otherwise. I'm sorry that we didn't bring you home for Christmas the first time around we were here." Honestly I had no idea what she was saying, but her smile made me feel like it was something good. I lick her hand as she tries to pet me.
"I can't thank you enough for adopting Jake," my handler says. "I know he has his quirks, but he really is a good dog once you give him a chance." She then looks down to me. "I'll miss ya bud, but I'm so happy for you. And no offense, but don't come back again!"
I watch as she hands my leash to the teenage girl and I can't help but to feel excited. I have a family yet again.
I've now been living with Maria for almost five years. Her parents welcomed me into their home and then once Maria got married, I moved in with her to her new house with her husband. Despite being six now, I still get submissive and have my accidents. I know it frustrates them, but they still view me as their beloved pet. I also learned that Maria's late dog, Chili was given not just a second, but a third chance, just like me. Being out of that shelter for good and living with my furever family is the best thing I could've ever wished for...plus, they give me yummy treats!