Happy Adoption Story: Jolene
I adopted Jolene in 2016 after volunteering and fostering at MCAS for about a year. She was about 9 months old and is the first dog I ever adopted by myself. Life with Jolene has been so fulfilling, but it hasn't come with it's own challenges. She was a handful in her younger years and even got a criminal record with the county (she escaped and hurt a neighbor's cat). People told me to surrender her or put her down because of her prey drive. But I was determined to make her life as fulfilled and loved as possible. She and I went through intensive training and learned how to manage her behaviors so that her triggers were positively reinforced rather than upsetting. It changed our lives for the better. I also came to accept that she will never be a dog park dog, as she is dog-selective, and that's okay. We have the best life together and I couldn't ask for a more rewarding and loving canine partner in this life. She's taught me so much and we've been through a lot together. She has a family that loves all of her no matter what.
