Jack

Jack’s Big Adventure

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Jack

Few people think I’m handsome. Ash says I have dark and brooding good looks, but I lack confidence and tend to hang back in a crowd. People notice the flashy twins and little Nellie before they see me standing in the background.

Once people get to know me, they like me. I’m affectionate in a quiet way. I never jump on people or scratch them. I don’t bark and carry on like the twins. When visitors sit down, I come over to greet them. They call me Gentleman Jack.

I must have amnesia because I don’t remember much before I came to Asherpark. My rap sheet at the shelter says I lived in a crazy house with druggies and run away kids. There were lots of little dogs in the house along with me and my pal, Butch.

Our vet, Dr. Brad, says the bone under my right eye was broken a long time ago. Maybe that’s why I flinch when anybody reaches to pet me. I don’t remember how it happened. I don’t want to.

My great adventure started on Christmas Eve. My big brother, Dan, came to see me. He works in the city and doesn’t come out very often.

On Christmas eve night I got to sleep in the studio with Dan. It was so nice to have my own person and get all the attention without the competition from the prettier dogs.

On Christmas morning Dan loaded my bed and food into his big truck. All of a sudden I got real nervous. I thought maybe he was gonna kidnap me and take me back to the shelter.

Then mom came out and told me everything was okay. She said it was a Christmas surprise for me and I would spend the entire day in town with Dan. I reluctantly got in the truck, still wondering if something bad was going to happen to me.

When we got to town Dan took me to his apartment. It was nice and warm. There were other people there and a guest dog. I was still scared, but Dan kept telling me everything would be all right.

When the visitors left, it was just me and Dan. We hung out together all afternoon. We watched TV and took walks in the neighborhood. About 5pm Dan warmed up my dinner that he brought from Asherpark. It tasted so good. I fell asleep right afterwards.

When I woke up it was time for my last walk of the night. Dan let me sniff all the pee scents. There sure are a lot of mutts that pee on the street corner where he lives.

Next morning Dan fed me breakfast and drove me back to Asherpark. I felt so important when I got out of his truck. All the other mutts gathered round and sniffed my butt to make sure I was okay. Ash was so happy for me. He said none of the other mutts ever get to sleep over with Dan.

When it was time for Dan to leave, I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to tell him how much it meant to be his special pal. I wanted to say thank you for the best Chrismas I ever had.

Out of nowhere big tears started rolling down my snout. I thought about life before Asherpark, when nobody cared about me and some people were mean to me. Now I have a big brother to look out for me, a big brother who really likes me and wants me to be his special buddy.

Tess ran over to see what was happening. Sometime she can be really nice. She licked my snout and told me she tasted tears of joy. I guess that’s so.

I can’t wait till Dan comes and gets me again. Me and Dan. That’s special.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nellie

Christmas #2

by  • 

Nellie

Yippee!! I made it! Today is a big milestone for me. It marks my second Christmas at Asherpark and my one year anniversary of the day I was officially adopted into the pack.

Last summer nobody thought I had a chance to live until Christmas. Each special occasion was like some big achievement. Could I live until mom’s birthday in September. Could I make it to Halloween.

Less than a month until Thanksgiving and finally could I hang on until Christmas. Well, I did and here I am.

The other mutts told me I had to do the Christmas Bark. I kinda worried about that. Should I try to write something profound? Should I bark about how life is strange and full of change?

While I was stewing about what to bark, Ash flopped down next to me. “Nellie, write what’s in your heart, that’s all you have to do,” he said.

Wow, that’s easy. My heart is full with one big word. Grateful!

I’m grateful for the second chance I got at Asherpark. I’m grateful for people who love me and think I’m special. I’m grateful for my yummie food and warm bed. I’m grateful for my pack, especially Ash who knows my heart. I give thanks to the universe that I made it to my second Christmas. I will be forever grateful.

If I could make just one wish come true, I would wish that every old, sick, discouraged, lonely, worn out dog like me could have a second chance. Me, Nellie, the throw away dog that nobody wanted found love at Asherpark.

Maybe you could give a sorry mutt like me a second chance. Believe me, a second chance dog never forgets their rescuer. That worn out stinky old mutt might just become the best friend you ever had.

Here are some mutts waiting for their second chance. Old Dog Haven Adoptable Dogs  If you can’t take one into your home, maybe you could give a few bucks to Old Dog Haven. It could be the best money you ever spent. Thanks for reading my Bark. All us mutts at Asherpark wish you the very best of days to come.

 

 

Tess

Double Trouble

by  • 

Tess and Ash

Yesterday Tess did a long Bark about having her own person. Because she was a stray and spent time in the slammer, she has this insecurity about life. She worries when we get left home alone. She worries about fireworks and thunderstorms.

Me, I had a better start in life. My parents planned my birth. I was born way out in the country up in northeast Washington. There were horses and lots of dogs. My birth family had a teen age girl who put me inside her jacket even before my eyes were open.

My chosen mom found me when I was five weeks old. I remember her holding me on her lap and whispering in my ear.

When I was seven weeks old I moved to Seattle and met my Aunt Codie. I’ve always had a family. I never spent time in the slammer. When scary things happen, my mom holds me and tells me not to be afraid. Then she shows me there’s nothing to worry about.

Codie was thirteen when I came home. She wasn’t thrilled to see me and warned me away when I was rude and too crazy. But after I got my adult teeth, we became fast friends. I loved Codie so much.  It never occurred to me that one day she would leave me.

I begged mom to let me cross the bridge with Codie, but mom said it wasn’t my time. Then I was alone, the only dog in the house.

I started acting real strange. I followed mom everywhere and cried if I couldn’t be right next to her. I pestered her constantly. I was nervous and jumpy.

A few weeks after Codie left us, mom held me real tight and asked me to pay attention. She said I was lonesome and needed a girlfriend. I knew I was lonesome, but I didn’t understand the girlfriend part.

Soon mom loaded me in the car and we drove to a bad part of town. A young woman walked up to us with the most beautiful redhead girl dog I’d ever seen. Mom started talking to the woman, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the redhead.

The girl dog seemed to like me too and started flirting with me. Next thing I knew me and the redhead jumped in the back of the car and drove back to Asherpark.

That beautiful redhead turned out to be my girlfriend, Tess. We had to give her a new name and clean up her hairballs, but it was love at first sight.

The first few weeks were a little rocky. Tess didn’t have the best manners and attacked me over food and toys, but we got that all sorted out.

For the past three years me and Tess have had the best time together. I taught her how to play with toys. She taught me how to open a door. Now everybody calls us the Twins. When we’re really bad they call us the Evil Twins.

Me and Tess want to thank our mom for arranging our life together. It’s the best!

Ash and Tess

Tess and Ash