Just after Valentine’s Day, hearts broke around the world when we heard the worst story of being stood up ever told. I’m honestly crying right now, as I write this! Jack, a precious nine-month-old American Bulldog with spina bifida, was a resident at Peaches Bully Rescue in West Chester, Ohio.
Jack’s condition requires him to wear diapers for incontinence, and his back feet are clubbed, which makes walking difficult, but possible.
When an adoption application came through for Jack, everyone at the rescue was ecstatic. He must have anticipated on some level that he was about to meet his family with all the excitement and preparation going on.
The result was tragic, however, as written on the rescue’s Facebook page: “Jack was very sad when his meet and greet person was a no show, no call. He had a bath, got his fancy harness on, had a fresh diaper, and a dedicated foster team that drove 40 mins each way just to end in huge disappointment. Obviously, that wasn’t his family.”
The paws-itive power of social media and news outlets combined to spread this story of heartbreak far and wide. Hundreds of people fell in love with this adorable doggo, and 297 applications flooded into the rescue. It’s one of the most heartwarming stories of social media being used for good, combined with the goodness in humanity, to give us the best love story coming out of this pandemic Valentine’s season.
The rescue carefully waded through the applications to select the best home for this very special dog. After a thorough consideration, they chose Elizabeth and her family for Jack’s fur-ever home.
I got a chance to talk to Elizabeth and find out more about her special connection with a very special dog!
Love At First Sight
AMANDA: Thank you so much for your time, and thank you so much for adopting Jack. Is Jack your first dog? And is he your first experience with taking care of a special needs dog?
ELIZABETH: Jack is my first dog as an adult. I didn’t want to get a dog until I had the space to let them play. He is the first diaper-wearing, special needs pup I have had experience with.
AMANDA: That’s even more impressive, then, that you chose to adopt a dog with special needs for care that you’d have to learn along the way! How brave and kind of you.
ELIZABETH: Thank you! We all love him very much.
AMANDA: How and when did you find out about Jack? What made you fall in love with him?
ELIZABETH: My friend posted on Facebook that he was looking for a dog, and someone sent him the link for Jack. I saw his face and instantly fell in love.
AMANDA: I know there were tons of applications coming in for Jack after the news got out that he was stood up on multiple meet-and-greet dates. I cried when I read that, and I still cry thinking about it! With all that competition from tender-hearted people, how did the shelter choose you to be Jack’s “furever” family?
ELIZABETH: I honestly have no idea how I got picked. I remember praying to God that he found a home with a family that would love him, and if they chose me to be his family, I prayed for guidance and strength to overcome any obstacle. And then we got the call.
AMANDA: It looks like your prayers were answered!
ELIZABETH: Thank you! They sure were!
Jack Comes Home For Good
AMANDA: What was it like adopting Jack and bringing him home? Can you tell us about it?
ELIZABETH: It was very surreal. The day after they chose us, my friend sent me a link showing his “fame.” We had no idea that he was so famous. We just thought he was a viral post on Facebook.
Bringing him home, we did all the wrong things to start. They told us to read the decompression paperwork, but it was a bit late, so we did not.
So we played with him and let him sleep in our bed, and he woke me up head-butting me with his diaper down to his ankles. Guess you could say I had some learning to do in the diaper department.
We did read the paperwork later, and he just roams the house as he pleases now.
AMANDA: Oh wow! I can only imagine there would be so much to learn, but I’m glad you all are so comfortable with each other already.
Life With A Very Special Dog
AMANDA: What kinds of things do you do to care for Jack? I saw he wears diapers sometimes. Is that difficult? Does he have to be on a special exercise regimen for strengthening and to avoid getting hurt?
ELIZABETH: Jack is incontinent. He has zero control of his bowels or urine. I take him outside on nice days and let him have naked time where he just runs around like a normal dog, sniffing things and rolling around in mud. But other than that he is in diapers all the time.
AMANDA: Makes sense. What is Jack’s personality like? Is he silly, playful, cuddly, clingy? How old is he?
ELIZABETH: Jack just turned one! March 9th (ish). He is so goofy and playful. If you see his pictures, you can see he is a pup of many personalities. He is not a morning pup at all. He like to relax in the sunshine by the window in the morning, and at night before bed, he is the most active. Once he gets his peanut butter and lights go off, he gets right to snoring.
Jack Gets All The Love He Deserves!
AMANDA: What has Jack’s “public life” been like since you brought him home? I read that he received lots of gifts while in the shelter. Does he still get presents from people? Do strangers recognize him? Does he like to meet new people or dogs?
ELIZABETH: Jack doesn’t care much for other dogs. But some people have recognized him from the stories and articles. We started an Amazon wishlist after getting so many requests from people. Luckily, getting those things in bulk allows me to donate the money I would have spent on them to the rescue that saved Jack’s life.
AMANDA: That’s wonderful of you. It’s clear, from Jack’s Instagram page, that the world loves him, but no one more than you, and the adoration is definitely mutual. In what ways do you like to spoil Jack? What makes him happiest?
Jack Inspires & Teaches
AMANDA: What have you learned from Jack? What have others learned from him?
ELIZABETH: I didn’t think a dog with needs like his could have a good quality of life. I’m so happy to be wrong about that. He lives his best life.
I think most people have thought the same thing. Most people euthanize pups with special needs to “put them out of their misery.” But that isn’t the case here; he is not miserable.
Jack is bringing awareness to so many people that special needs dogs don’t need to be euthanized.
They can have great lives assuming they have the right family.
AMANDA: Wow, what an amazing lesson. You both are teaching the world so much.
You Can Help Dogs Like Jack, Too!
AMANDA: Do you have advice for other people who might be considering adopting a special needs dog?
ELIZABETH: My advice would be to exercise patience and love.
It takes time trying to learn the dos and don’ts of how to care for a pup properly.
I am blessed to have the support of the loving foster family that housed Jack, as well as the rescue owners. Staying by their side and calling when I just don’t know what to do has been key.
AMANDA: Great advice! Are there any other ways people can help dogs like Jack?
ELIZABETH: If anybody that reads this wants to help, there is a special fund at Peaches Bully Rescue in Jack’s name. They do so much on a daily basis for these pups that are just as awesome and wonderful as Jack.
If people want to help Jack, donate there. His needs are met, and he just wants those dogs to be taken care of the way the rescue took care of him.
AMANDA: Elizabeth, this is one of the most heartwarming stories I’ve ever heard. I really appreciate all you’ve done for Jack, as well as all the two of you have done for rescue dogs and dogs with disabilities in general. You are both amazing! Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful story with DogTime!
ELIZABETH: Thank you! My pleasure!
- To see Jack’s daily adventures, please follow him on Instagram.
- To learn more about Peaches Bully Rescue, please follow them on Facebook or visit their website.
Does Jack’s story inspire you? Would you adopt a special needs dog like Jack? Let us know in the comments below!
