Jude has been adopted! 11-15-2008

While we are getting to know Jude, we will post Jude's plea by a volunteer at the shelter who fell in love with him. Reading this you will see why we couldn't say no to this adorable boy!

Krista wrote:

Thump, thump, thump. His tail wags against the concrete floor as he sits and waits for me to turn the key and pull open his cage door. His eyes are dancing, his body starting to wiggle. And yet he sits. And waits. He lets me attach the leash and then we are off. Down the dark, concrete hall. Past the medical room. His heartbeat quickens - he knows that dogs go in there and sometimes don't come out. Is that where we are heading? As we pass by the room his step livens even more.

That's not his destination. Not today anyway. We push open the heavy metal doors and the sunlight makes us squint. He dashes out into the fresh air and dances about - so happy to be alive and outdoors and with me - so happy to have some attention and love for a few minutes today. We dash around like little children playing in a playground. He chases me, I chase him. Really we're just in an old shelter parking lot, it doesn't even have grass. He doesn't care - it's the prettiest playground in the world to him today. He sits on command and I give him treat after treat. He gets bellyrubs and gives a million kisses.

Of course, after a while, I have to take him back. Back through the heavy metal doors, back down the dark hallway, past the death room, and back into the cage that has been his home for four months. As I walk away from his cage, his earnest eyes pierce into mine. He's pleading with me for his life. He knows that his next walk might be into that back room - and all he wants in the world is to be safe and loved. He misses the sunshine and fresh air already. Tears stream down my face because I too know that today might have been his last day to play...

Jude is a 3 year old Shepherd mix. He was brought in as a stray in June to the North Central shelter in Los Angeles. His ID number is A095949. Over these past several months he has shared his cage with many other dogs - and he has always gotten along with them, even the ones that aren't so nice... He loves every person he meets and is always full of kisses and tail wags. Once he knows you, he bonds strongly with you - once you are his human nothing in this world can strip away his loyalty and love.

Yesterday Jude was redlisted. He has less than 7 days of safety left. Not only is Jude an extremely adoptable dog, but he is an easy rescue - great with other dogs and great with people. What more could you want? I pray that Jude does get another walk - and I hope he does go into the back room - but I hope it's to be microchipped and examined and cleared for adoption/rescue. If that doesn't happen soon, he'll go into the back room and be killed. It would be a tragedy. Please consider adopting or rescuing Jude. You could not possibly hope for a sweeter, smarter, more loving dog.

The minimum adoption donation for adults is $375 and the adoption donation for puppies is $500. This amount only partially covers the cost of veterinary care, boarding fees, and other miscellaneous expenses involved in the temporary care and adoption of our dogs and is tax deductible when permitted by law. The adoption donation provides that all dogs will be spayed or neutered, receive current vaccinations, and are microchipped. If not, arrangements will be made on an individual basis ( i.e., puppies who will need to be altered by 6 mos old). Special consideration may be given to those willing to adopt older dogs or dogs with physical problems.