Jake, A Neighborhood Celebrity

Jake riding home with Kate

Jake may be happily settled in these days, but his story took a few unexpected turns before he found his way to his new family.

You might remember a few months back when Jake came to The Crossings Animal Society (CAS) from our rescue partner and was adopted immediately. When his adopter began to suspect that Jake might be deaf, CAS made sure he got the answers and care he needed right away, which included a BAER test to diagnose the severity of any hearing loss.

It turned out Jake was deaf and had been for all of his life; he was making do until he found his way into our care.Ultimately, his first adoption wasn’t the right fit, and Jake returned to CAS, spending some time at Golden Paws Pet Resort while we waited for the right home to come along.

Then Kate and her family came into his life, meeting and adopting Jake in a short period of time.

According to Kate, Jake “pretty much settled in overnight,” but he really started to gain confidence once he found his place among the family’s other animals. Honey, their Husky/Shepherd, has been especially important to him, teaching him so much and helping him learn how to communicate in his new home. Pickle, a senior Chihuahaha, tends to tag along no matter what.

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Between Honey's guidance and Kate's hand signals, Jake is able to communicate like any other animal.

And Jake certainly has plenty to communicate. He gives his family “impressive barks” when he’s hungry or wants to go outside, and he even “sings” to greet them when they return home.

When it’s bedtime, Jake leads the way and makes sure he claims his favorite spot.

These days, he’s living a pretty great life. Jake loves playing with his collection of Lamb Chop toys, going for car rides, napping on the couch, and enjoying salmon jerky. He spent the summer playing with his friends, soaking up the sun on the deck, and learning new tricks.

He’s also become something of a local celebrity. "So many people stop us to ask if he’s THE Jake from CAS,” Kate shared.

He has made plenty of friends around the neighborhood and gets plenty of kisses from his many admirers every day.

A DNA test also revealed that Jake is primarily Great Pyrenees, with Australian Cattle Dog and Catahoula Leopard Dog in the mix — which, according to Kate, “makes a lot of sense.”

But perhaps the best update of all is simply that Jake is happy, confident, and very much loved.

Pickle, Jake, and Honey

“He is very much loved and we’re so glad to have found him.”

And judging by the warm welcomes he gets around the neighborhood, Jake isn’t the only one who’s glad he’s here. After a few unexpected turns, he’s found a family where he can be completely himself — and a whole community that seems pretty happy to know him, too.

We couldn’t ask for a better update on Jake. What's better than cute cats and dogs to break up the monotony of your inbox? For more updates on adoptions, fosters, adoptable pets, and all of the work we do with our veterinary funds, sign up for our emails! We promise we won't spam you.