Happy Tails
Successful stories of adoption at Juneau Animal Rescue
Happy Tails - Smokey
Smokey arrived at Juneau Animal Rescue (JAR) in October, 2015. It was not Smokey’s first time. He was a “runner” and had been picked up several times by Animal Control. The last time, his owners opted to leave him at the shelter. Smokey is a Border Collie mix and it was thought that finding somebody to adopt him would be difficult given his past history. He had been at JAR for 75 days when Dick and Rosemarie Isett came to visit him.
When I decided to do a story about Smokey, I began to think about why I chose to tell his story. There was nothing extraordinary about him, he had no special needs or medical issues, but every time I would run into Rosemarie, she would tell me how much they loved Smokey and how he was such an incredible dog. After interviewing them, I found out why.
The Isett’s have always had Border Collies. They have bred them in the past and usually have multiple dogs. They found out about Smokey via Dick’s daughter in Bend, Oregon. She had sent them a photo of Smokey from the JAR web page. They went to visit Smokey and knew right away they wanted to bring him home into their family. After Smokey had a “Meet and Greet” with the Isett’s four other dogs in the yard at JAR, he went home with them.
A few days after Smokey was in his new home, Captain, one of the dogs in the house, decided it was time for Smokey to go. Captain knows how to open the door and did, showing Smokey the way out, as if to say, “You can go home now.” Of course he took off and Animal Control had to be called. He was discovered a few blocks away, but jumped right into the car when he was called. Although Smokey had a reputation for running, it was really the last time he would go that far from home. Now he stays home, which is one of the things the Islett’s are most surprised about.
Smokey loves to play with balls, go for walks on the trails, and ride in the car. He also brings the newspaper in every day. One of Smokey’s most beloved traits is how he immediately fit into the family. Not only does he comfort humans but the other dogs as well. He knows when people and dogs are having a hard time. When two of the Isett’s older dogs were nearing transition, Smokey would comfort them by wrapping himself around them. Smokey was there to not only help those dogs in their time of need, but he comforted Dick and Rosemarie during those times when they needed him too.
The Isett’s are continuing supporters of Juneau Animal Rescue. Rosemarie teaches a communications class at UAS and recently her class opted to do a shelter project by having a small open house in the lobby of JAR over the holidays. They helped with selling calendars and offering refreshments. The class thinks everyone should look first at the shelter to find pets.
Life without dogs is something Rosemarie and Dick can’t even imagine. They are an important part of their lives. They feel as much as they rescued Smokey, Smokey has rescued them!
When I decided to do a story about Smokey, I began to think about why I chose to tell his story. There was nothing extraordinary about him, he had no special needs or medical issues, but every time I would run into Rosemarie, she would tell me how much they loved Smokey and how he was such an incredible dog. After interviewing them, I found out why.
The Isett’s have always had Border Collies. They have bred them in the past and usually have multiple dogs. They found out about Smokey via Dick’s daughter in Bend, Oregon. She had sent them a photo of Smokey from the JAR web page. They went to visit Smokey and knew right away they wanted to bring him home into their family. After Smokey had a “Meet and Greet” with the Isett’s four other dogs in the yard at JAR, he went home with them.
A few days after Smokey was in his new home, Captain, one of the dogs in the house, decided it was time for Smokey to go. Captain knows how to open the door and did, showing Smokey the way out, as if to say, “You can go home now.” Of course he took off and Animal Control had to be called. He was discovered a few blocks away, but jumped right into the car when he was called. Although Smokey had a reputation for running, it was really the last time he would go that far from home. Now he stays home, which is one of the things the Islett’s are most surprised about.
Smokey loves to play with balls, go for walks on the trails, and ride in the car. He also brings the newspaper in every day. One of Smokey’s most beloved traits is how he immediately fit into the family. Not only does he comfort humans but the other dogs as well. He knows when people and dogs are having a hard time. When two of the Isett’s older dogs were nearing transition, Smokey would comfort them by wrapping himself around them. Smokey was there to not only help those dogs in their time of need, but he comforted Dick and Rosemarie during those times when they needed him too.
The Isett’s are continuing supporters of Juneau Animal Rescue. Rosemarie teaches a communications class at UAS and recently her class opted to do a shelter project by having a small open house in the lobby of JAR over the holidays. They helped with selling calendars and offering refreshments. The class thinks everyone should look first at the shelter to find pets.
Life without dogs is something Rosemarie and Dick can’t even imagine. They are an important part of their lives. They feel as much as they rescued Smokey, Smokey has rescued them!
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Written by Hazel Reynolds
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