I’ve shared this story on my personal page, but now it’s time to share it here. Hang on until the end, because it’s a good one.
On Tuesday, Aug. 9, I lost Jeter. Two days later, on Aug. 11 (my birthday), would have been our 10 years together. He was cremated that day.
On Aug. 13, I went to the Van Wert County Humane Society’s Open House for our new shelter that we had spent so long building. I walked back to check out some of the dogs who had come in who were in the Sheriff’s area. At the end of kennels sat a quiet little puppy who pressed himself near the kennel door–ears down, and tail still. It being just 4 days since I lost my Jeter, I was drawn to his sad eyes, big round head, and brindle color–which all reminded me so much of Jeter. So, I asked about him.
He was seized during a raid. When a raid occurs and there are animals in the house, we take them so they aren’t left alone. He would sit in that cage until his people either came back for him or for 14 days when he would then be available for adoption. I left the open house and kept thinking about him. Less than an hour later, I went back and pestered the shelter staff with questions. I filled out an adoption form thinking, “Why not? It doesn’t hurt and just because I fill out the form doesn’t mean I have to adopt him. It’s just nice to have it on file.”
A few days passed and I decided I really did want a puppy. I had told myself that I wasn’t going to and that it was just going to be me and Caesar. But Caesar clearly doesn’t want all of my attention, and grief makes you promise weird things. So, I changed my mind because I wanted something to hold and squeeze and love. After hearing a rumor that puppy’s person was trying to give the puppy away to people at the shelter, I went back to the shelter on Aug. 17 to snoop around. No one had shown yet, even though they had been contacted and told they could come get him before 6 p.m.
That night, I went and looked at other puppies the shelter had in foster care. They were cute and fluffy but they were female and for whatever reason, I’ve always had a preference to males. Still, a puppy is a puppy and I figured they still needed a home. I started to get my mind used to the idea of having a girl dog.
The next day (Aug. 18), I was driving home from work but something pulled at me to stop at the shelter even though it’s way out of my way and even though I’d get there at 5:30 and they close at 6. I decided to follow that pull. I got there and asked if I could see the puppy alone. I took him to our new, awesome meet and greet room and within a few minutes of me playing with him, getting kisses, and getting him to sit like a good boy, an old beat-up pickup truck pulled in and an older lady entered proclaiming she was here to pick up the puppy.
I was bummed. I hugged him and told him his people had come.
But my friends at the shelter asked her if she was sure she wanted him and if she could afford his care. She said yes and yes. Then they told her that I was in the play room and had just lost my dog and that if she didn’t REALLY want him, I’d give him a good home.
The lady looked in at us playing just as I was getting him to sit for a treat. Honestly, it was a scene right out of a movie. I could hear her say “awwww.”
The lady told the Humane Society staff that she needed to make a call. She left and came back in a few minutes. She asked to talk to me.
In tears, she asked me if I wanted him and if I’d give him a good home. I said yes, yes absolutely. She told me it was her daughter’s dog and that her daughter’s boyfriend had been kicking him in the head and beating him. She said she really didn’t want to take him back to that. I said I promise that this dog will be taken care of and loved with me. She couldn’t stop saying thank you. She wanted to make sure she was doing the right thing and I assured her she was.
This dog came in on my birthday, Aug. 11—the day I got Jeter 10 years ago and the day he ended up being cremated. I usually go straight home after work but felt pulled on this particular day to go to the shelter even though I knew the people said they were coming back for him. I just happened to get him out to play with him at the end of the shelter’s business day and she just happened to choose that exact time to come in for him.
It’s too much to just be luck or a coincidence. This was the universe telling me that I needed this dog, and clearly, he needed me too. He couldn’t go back to that. I truly believe that Jeter sent him to me in some way.
I was sad. For the month before Jeter’s passing, caring for him had become my whole life. I felt so empty not being able to pour my love and compassion into someone that needed it. And then I found this puppy.
Nothing will ever replace Jeter, but, as a dog lover, I wouldn’t be serving his memory or fulfilling my purpose if I didn’t take all the love I had for him and pour it into this little guy.
His name is Gatsby, by the way—yes, like The Great (it’s only fitting with a cat named after Herman Melville).
He’s been with us since Aug. 20. Each day Caesar and him have grown closer. He’s incredibly smart, happy, obedient, and well mannered. He sleeps in his crate without making a peep, hardly has any accidents, is respectful of Caesar (who is very much an old man not interested in playing with a puppy), and is, of course, a very good boy. I can’t imagine anyone hurting any dog, let alone a puppy, and even worse–a puppy as good as him.
From this day forward, little Gatsby will never know pain or suffering or hate at the hand of a human. He’ll only know love. He may not know it yet, but he’s about to live the very best life.
