Jack is in his forever home

We finally found a forever family for Jack yesterday...or, rather, they found him. He was with us only two weeks, but it was kind of a whirlwind two weeks, because this was my first "normal" adoption. Meaning, not only did I have Jack for only a week before putting him up for adoption -- he had no medical or other issues that would have precluded that -- but he was the youngest of the three dogs I've had. The younger, the better in terms of the number of families interested in adopting. Conversely, the older the dog, the fewer applications you get.

With Buddy, who was not particularly old at age five but who had a worrisome medical history and ongoing allergy issues, the first two applicants passed on him because of his problems. After having Buddy up for adoption for nearly two months, I finally found him a home by taking him to a pet expo, where a wonderful couple fell in love with him. With Zoe, age six with behavioral problems, I got one application in six weeks -- and she adopted him.

With Jack, we got applications right away. The first lady was looking for a mellow dog. I said no outright. The second app was from a couple in their 20s, newly married and living in a new condo in Pasadena. They came to meet Jack and, although they were extremely nice, they were pretty freaked out by his energy level. (Jack didn't help his cause by acting like a complete lunatic when they arrived.)

The third applicants were a mom, dad and teenage son from Ventura who had never had a dog before. They were even more freaked out than the newlyweds when Jack charged out of the house and began jumping on them.

Applicant No. 4 was a lawyer who lived in downtown L.A. She was great with him, but she lived in a condo, and the closest grass was a long block away. Also, she was a slender woman and he is a puller. We mutually decided it wasn't a match.

Jack's final application arrived on Friday. The family consists of a dad, an at-home mom and a teenage son that live two miles from the ocean in Huntington Beach. Their golden retriever, whom they'd adopted at age four and who had lived to age 16, had died last summer, and they missed having a dog. They had been looking for a younger dog, but their family rep gently steered them toward Jack, and we set up a meeting for Sunday.

We decided this time to put Jack on a leash to meet them. So instead of jumping uncontrollably, he greeted them by straining uncontrollably against the leash and gasping for breath. Marginally better than the leashless greeting, but not fabulous.

As I was holding Jack down on the living room floor, trying to get him to stop writhing and gnawing on my hand, I assured them repeatedly that he was only like this when he first met people, and that for most part, he was a pretty calm dog. And then, miraculously, he calmed down.

I wanted to make sure they knew what they were getting. I asked, "Have you seen 'Marley and Me'?" They had. That made it easy. "He's got some Marley attributes," I told them. I said that male Labs were often more exuberant and goofier and quirkier and probably a bit more work, but those qualities also made them interesting and more fun. I think they're also more dependent and affectionate than females, in general.

I suggested they take him for a walk and see how they got along. This was a quiet family, and I thought he might be too much for them. Twenty minutes later, they came back and said they wanted him. That told me they "got" him. Yes, he is kind of out of control in certain situations. He steals socks and he doesn't like his crate and he's mouthy and he pulls on his leash sometimes. But he's also incredibly good-natured, beautiful, playful and friendly, and he does care about being a good dog. Even if he never gets another ounce of obedience training, he'll still be a great dog. He'll never hurt another person or another animal, he'll be a faithful and loyal companion, and he'll always be in a good mood.

The house was so quiet last night with him gone. With no Jack to play with, my dogs snoozed all night. I was able to leave things out without worrying that Jack might steal them, eat without having Jack beg and go into my closet without Jack rummaging through the laundry basket. I watched TV all night without Jack climbing up beside me and shoving his ball at me, urging me to toss it a few feet. I went from room to room without being followed.

We miss him.