A global community of dog lovers. Dogs are our best friends, always fiercely loyal to us!
02/16/2025
Sixteen years ago, a woman working at a shelter begged a man she was dating to take in a young puppy. The dog was scheduled to be euthanized because no one would adopt him. He was terrified of people, ran from everyone, and wouldn’t let anyone get close. The truth was, someone had hurt him badly, leaving him broken and scared.
Believing he was doing the dog a favor, the man agreed to take him in. He named him Jack, after a great man in his life who had passed away years earlier. Jack was allowed to simply be who he was—a dog longing for love and attention but paralyzed by fear. It took two long years of patience and care before Jack trusted him enough to allow a belly rub.
Though Jack never fully overcame his fear, he learned to trust the man and felt safe with him. Every interaction throughout Jack’s life began with the same ritual: shaking with fear and barking until he felt comfortable enough to be touched. The man patiently let Jack go through this process every single time, believing he was the one providing comfort and service to the dog.
The man is now 10 years sober. He realized that Jack had been with him for six years before his sobriety began—through the darkest, most difficult period of his life. Jack loved him unconditionally, even when he wasn’t at his best. The faithful companion stayed by his side, offering a kind of love and support the man didn’t fully understand at the time. Looking back, he now sees it wasn’t just him being of service to Jack; Jack had been of service to him in ways he couldn’t have imagined.
Today, the man had to say goodbye to Jack. The old dog was tired, and life had become hard and painful for him. When the vet administered the sedative, Jack finally relaxed—perhaps for the first time in his life, without fear.
Rest in peace, sweet Jack. There is a special place waiting for you.
