Pet’s Name: Jack
What kind of breed is it? Labrador Mix
Male or Female? Male
How old? 9 Months
Where and why did you get your pet? We adopted him from the Legacy Humane Society. We adopt- ed a puppy to become a companion to our special needs son, but he has quickly become a beloved family pet to all of our children.
If your pet is from a rescue or no-kill shelter, please tell us a bit about the organization. Yes, Legacy Hu- mane Society was started in 2008, previously named the Collin County Humane Society. They rescue adoptable dogs and puppies from animal shelters
and animal control facilities, in addition to abusive and neglectful situations, including puppy mills. In 2012, they took over the Rockwall animal shelter
and turned the facility into a “no-kill” animal shelter. However, most of the animals rescued are all in foster homes until a forever home can be found. The volun- teers work tirelessly to make sure these animals get the care needed to be ready for a new family.
Is there a story behind Jack’s name? My special needs son is non-verbal and only has a few words in his vo- cabulary. His first word we ever heard was the name
of our old dog, Mia. Mia passed away earlier this year due to old age, so it was important that we find a name for the new puppy that our son could say. After many suggestions, the only name my son was able to repeat was “Jack.”
Does he have any special talents or quirks? He always howls very loudly before he starts barking.
What do you like best about your pet? His personality. He is always energetic, happy, curious, and loves to cuddle. He also has a natural protective instinct toward our special needs son.
Any funny stories? At 9 months old, weighing 80 lbs, he likes his space and will jump on the couch and push you out of the way so he can stretch out to his lon- gest length, then flip over on his back with his paws in the air. We think he does it on purpose so we don’t bother him.
Is your pet spoiled? Yes, the couch is his domain. We are merely allowed to sit there after he makes sure there is room for himself.
How your pet has enriched your home and family? He has brought our family closer together. With two older children coming into the teenage years, they were starting to drift toward staying in their rooms as opposed to hanging out with mom and dad. Since Jack joined or family, we all are either outside or in the family room, spending time with him. Jack also helps get our teenagers out of bed in the morning with what we now call “puppy wake up calls.”
What else should we know about your pet? He instantly became a member of our family and added something that we didn’t even realize was missing.
