Woman’s Best Friend - My Dog “Jazz”

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I was probably about 8 when we got our first dog, the runt of the litter, a beagle named Tuppence. We didn’t name her, the breeder did, and although we thought it was a little strange, we decided to keep it. She was tiny and soft and had big, floppy ears. She wasn’t a barker like a lot of beagles, but as a puppy I would hear her cry as she sat alone in her little basket in the kitchen at night. She was lonely. Sometimes I would go sit with her and just cuddle her. Even then I knew that babies needed to be touched and loved.

As she (and I) got older, Tuppence would follow us around - inside and out - and I would lie on the couch when I was tired or sick and she would lay next to me as I covered both of us with my blanket. You never forget your first dog.

And then she was hit by a car.

I remember the day like it was yesterday. A neighbor was coming around the corner of our street way too fast (there were children playing) and Tuppence happened to be crossing the street at the time. We screamed! The rest is a blur… my mother running and wrapping her up in a blanket and racing her to the Vet’s office.

She never came home.

We eventually got another dog… but it wasn’t the same. I wanted Tuppence back.

I didn’t have another dog until I met my husband. When we started dating he had just bred his two bulldogs and there were 4 bulldog puppies to love. If you’ve never seen (or held) a bulldog puppy you are missing out on one of life’s greatest pleasures. We eventually sold two of the dogs, gave one to my husband’s brother and kept the cutest one for ourselves. Java. David had three bulldogs in a small house… and it was all-consuming. Bulldogs are fabulous pets… but they don’t live very long. Marble died, Turbo died, and eventually Java died. Devastating each time.

I wasn’t sure I wanted another dog. I had 3 kids and too much on my plate already. The kids wanted a dog and we finally agreed we’d keep our eyes open. Trips to the local animal shelters became a regular thing. I wasn’t sold. Until I saw HIM.

The Castaic Shelter is the next town over from us and we took a family trip there one weekend. As we walked the floor and looked at the sometimes sad - sometimes scary - dogs that were caged, I came across one cage with one dog who sat far back. He wasn’t up at the bars barking and prancing, trying to catch the eye of a kind soul who take pity on him and bring him home. No… he was sitting regally in the back, just kind of eyeing me… not barking, not coming to say Hi. In fact, he just sat and turned his head away as if to say, “I’m not really supposed to be here. My family will be coming for me soon. Go find another lonely dog to take home.”

I stopped to take a look and then I moved on. And then I came back. And came back. And came back. Something about that dog was drawing me to him. He was beautiful, for sure. He was an Australian Shepherd, gorgeous markings in black, brown and white. He had freckles on his nose and big, beautiful eyes. He was also well-behaved and had obviously been well taken care of. Why was he here?

His paperwork stated that animal control found him wandering the streets. No collar. Shelter policy was to keep the dogs and try and find their owner for at least 10 days. After 10 days the dogs were free to be adopted. This dog had only been there a few days. Chances are someone would come looking for him. We went home… a little sad.

I went back a week later… just to see. I couldn’t get that dog off my mind. I didn’t expect him to be there… he was. Not only was he still there, but when I asked about him in the office, I was told there were three people who put their names down to adopt him when the 10-day waiting period was over. THREE? Oh noooooo!!!!!!

The woman asked me if I wanted to add my name to the list? What was the point? There were 3 people ahead of me. The dog apparently wasn’t meant to be mine. I put my name down anyway and went home never expecting to see him again.

When those 10 days were up, I thought I should call the Shelter just to see if he had been adopted by one of the families on the list. I wanted to make sure he found a home and was safe. Surprisingly, the woman I spoke with said that they had called the first name on the list and they passed on the dog. WHAT? Why would they do that? How horrible! There were still 2 names to go.

A few days later I called back again. The other two people on the list had passed on the dog as well. He was mine if I wanted him.

WHAT? He was mine if I wanted him? Oh no… I didn’t expect, I didn’t think, I wasn’t sure…

I dropped the kids off at school and made a beeline for the Shelter. I was bringing home a dog.

I believe with all my heart that Jazz (Amanda named him) was meant to be mine. Ours. No… he’s really mine. From the moment I saw him, he was my dog. We all love him to pieces, but I love him most. And he will never die… because I know I wouldn’t be able to stand it.

He follows me around, he sleeps on the foot of my bed, he comforts me when I’m sad and he is fiercely protective and loyal. He sits underneath the table when we’re eating… just in case someone drops a scrap of food. And we drop things a lot.

We give him the best we possibly can… and that means being really careful about the treats he gets. I try and stay away from table food (except for that occasional food drop) but I’ve been trying out the new Nudges® Grillers or Sizzlers treats since they look so much like the food we eat. The Grillers come in chicken and steak flavors, and the Sizzlers comes in chicken bacon and beef & cheese flavors. They are “real food inspired” and they even look like real cooked meat. No artificial flavors or fillers (natural ingredients only) and they have that real meaty texture, appearance, and smell. When it comes to MY dog… only the best!

Dogs bring so much to our lives and it’s so important that we take the best care of them as possible. Jazz has the same needs that we all have:

• Physical Needs:
  • Providing proper nutrition and high quality treats like Nudges® Grillers or Sizzlers.
  • Making sure he is clean and groomed on a regular basis.
  • Gets plenty of exercise.

• Emotional needs:
  • Gets LOTS of love and attention.
  • Learns to be around other dogs.

• Mental needs:
  • Make sure there are lots of toys to play with, dogs get bored too.
  • We have tons of geckos in our back yard that Jazz loves to run and play with. (He never hurts them.)

• Social needs:
  • Dogs need friends too. We have a Shih Tzu named Lulu who has become Jazz’s little sister. He protects her and watches out for her and loves to play with her.

Pick up some Nudges® Grillers or Sizzlers in the Dog Treats aisle at Walmart, and also check out the new Nudges® Jerky Cuts value size (36oz) at Walmart.

 

 

How have your pets brought joy to your family?