JESSE: MY STORY

They call me Jesse --- now. I have had other names, but this one I think will be the one to endure.

I was born to a wonderful mother who took good care of me and fed me whenever I was hungry. The only problem was that I just didn’t stay with her long enough. One day a very nice lady came and cuddled me in her lap and held me close. It was love at first sight. She took me home with her and everything was fine until her man came home. He was not at all pleased to see me and didn’t like me from the very first day. I learned to stay away from “the man” whenever he was home. The lady was terrific, though, feeding me when I was hungry and taking me for nice walks which I loved. I had a bed to sleep in and was very happy and content as long as “he” was not around.

I stayed at this place for about a year (I heard the lady say it was my birthday, so I knew how old I was). Then she received a phone call and said she had to go away for a while; her mother was sick. I was afraid, but thought if I just stayed away from “him” and didn’t bother him, I would be all right. But he was not a good person; he forgot to feed me and give me enough water. When I began crying, he got angry. Finally, one day he took my collar off and took me in the car. I had hopes that he was taking me to the lady, but it was not to be. Instead, he lifted me out of the car and put me in someone’s yard; then he left!!

I was hungry and thirsty and wanted someone to take me into their house. Sometimes people would stop and pet me and even give me a little food. Big dogs barked at me, but mostly they were in fences or on a leash being walked. I was very sad and afraid. The nights were getting cold and I was having trouble finding a warm spot.

This miserable time continued for about a month. Then the owner of one of the dogs on a leash picked me up and took me into her car for a ride. When I first saw the new place, I was scared because there were so many other dogs, some of them very big! But the people there were very nice; they fed me, gave me a bath, and gave me shots. Then I went to sleep and awoke with a pain in my tummy --- they said I had been spayed. All of this occurred in one day.

While I was sleeping and trying to regain my strength, someone picked me up and took me to see a man and a lady named Jim and Laurie. They held and cuddled me just like I have always wanted. Then they put me in their car and carried me home with them!

When we got there, they held me all day, being careful not to hurt my sore place. When they brought in their children (a boy and a girl named Jay and Annie) to meet me, I was so happy!! They all loved me, I could tell --- at last I had found a happy home!!

Later that day, visitors came to see me and brought a white furry dog with them. But that is a story for another day.