Friends, one of our absolutely amazing volunteers, Susan, has an amazing story to tell. Jamison has been searching for his long term foster home since he came to us in March, and Susan is opening her heart and her home to this special boy. We’re hoping this will be a “Happily Every After” story- for all of us!
Sometimes an opportunity comes along which falls into a person’s lap. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to be a volunteer and staff person at House With a Heart (HWAH) since 2011. I’ve gotten to know many of the humans, dogs, and cats during my years. I’ve always been an animal lover and as I’ve gotten older and wiser, it’s even extended to becoming a vegetarian. So when Sher said there were opportunities to foster a dog, it planted a little seed in my mind that would not go away.
Jamison (a.k.a. Jamie) was rescued from a local hoarding situation January 1, 2016. He was taken to the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center and stayed there for about two months. He came to HWAH March 3, 2016. When I saw Jamie the second day he was there, he looked like a decrepit old man. His age was listed as 15. We were worried he would bite us, as he had obviously been through a lot. Chris Anderson made a hand on a stick, so we could stroke him. I wondered how this little guy would survive the next few months. One eye was so damaged, it had to be removed. A large tumor golf ball size on his chest was removed.
Slowly a feisty little dog emerged. He was able to walk around, find the numerous doggie doors to take himself outside and follow his beloved Sher everywhere with his limited eye sight. He would even sit at the last gate that she exited, waiting for her return. He was her fierce protector. Jamie is a smart little guy – when Sher said she got the syringes ready to give medicine to the other dogs (even though he didn’t get any) he knew treats were involved, so he was front and center in the kitchen.
Sher knew Jamie would thrive in an individual home where he would get lots of attention. Sher knew my dog Amos passed away last year and I only had one dog Shorty, one cat Lucky, and one husband Joe, at home. So she and I talked about possibly taking Jamie home one weekend to see if it would work.
Jamie and Lucky (the cat!) became immediate friends. Jamie and Shorty were wary, but no problems emerged except Jamie liked Shorty’s bed instead of his own. I made sure he knew Shorty’s bed was hers if she wanted it. He respected my wishes to let her pick her bed first. Joe was wondering why there was another dog in the house. Jamie quickly learned where the gate was to the back yard and made sure he did his business in the proper place. He followed me or Joe everywhere we went, even back and forth in our kitchen from the stove to the sink. If he knew there could be a treat involved he would be in his hind legs and beg with his front paws. It was obvious, Jamie was once a very much beloved dog, who somehow lost his owner along the way.
We are now in a trial phase, and with fingers crossed, hope that Jamie will enjoy being a very much beloved dog again, and this time, to the end of his days.