My Best Friend Jazzy
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
By: Kelly Crowell

All I have to do is look into those eyes of hers and she makes me smile.

I adopted Jazzy (previously known as Fudge) from NHS this last May. She had been the feature pet of the week on Facebook and once I saw her face I knew that I had to meet her. She was an older Beagle and I have always had a soft spot for Beagles. I didn't want her to not be able to find a home just because of her age so I decided I would go meet her for myself.

I anxiously waited in the greeting room that spring day. When the door opened in walked a quiet and shy little Beagle. The lady explained to me that she had been abused. She had been in and out of the shelter several times. The last family that had adopted her from NHS had dumped her and she was found on the street practically starved. When they tried to contact the last family they wouldn't return the calls. They obviously didn't want her anymore. I could tell that she wanted attention, but was still scared about getting too close to people. But she had a soft kindness in her eyes and I knew then that I couldn't leave without her. I made her a promise that day to be her forever home, it's a promise I intend to never break.

Since she has come into my life she is always by my side. She goes with me everywhere I can bring her. Everyone that meets her, loves her. My best friend has twin girls who love her and Jazzy loves them. They go on walks together and there was even a time when one of them was sick and Jazzy dutifully laid by her bed all night until she was well enough to get up the next day. She brings a smile to the face of everyone she meets.

I often wonder about the people that had her before. Wonder how they could be so cruel to her, how they could leave her on the side of the road somewhere. I feel bad for those people, because they are the ones that lost out. They will never know the stoic beauty of this truly amazing creature. She has brought a joy to my life that I didn't know was missing until she filled it. She is my best friend. Anytime I am down she is there and all I have to do is look into those eyes of hers and she makes me smile. She gives me strength because whatever problems I think I am facing I know she has already been through so much worse and still she finds the ability to love everyone she meets. And in turn, everyone loves her too!