In honor of Valentine's Day, here's an excerpt from "Jack McAfghan: Reflections on Life with my Master" by Kate McGahan
She
thought she knew what she wanted. She specifically came to see my little
sister, but by the time she arrived my sister had been sold.
“Oh…” she said as her face fell,
obviously disappointed.
My brothers hovered around her, climbing
all over her and into her lap. One of them was so excited he scratched her
face. I just watched them all, thinking how nice it would be to be with someone
like her. I hung out in the background hoping she would notice me. The others
were all quite unruly, competing for her attention. I think this is where I
first learned that climbing all over someone doesn't necessarily make them want
to be with you.
It looked like she was going to
take my little brother home. I was preparing myself for that. She was sitting
on the ground and he was sitting in her lap, sleeping like a baby. Then she
looked over at me for the first time and our eyes met. I could almost feel her
heart touch mine. They say you fall in love in less than a second. I can verify
that this is totally and utterly true.
I was intoxicated by the feelings
that I had for her, but something in my heart told me to remain calm. I
retreated to my dingy little cardboard bed, turned around a few times and lay down.
I rested my head on my front paws as a humble gesture and continued to steadily
gaze at her. Waiting. Watching. Hoping. I tried to crawl into her mind with my
thoughts so that she would want to take me home instead of my brother. I
imagined the fun the two of us would have. I pictured us playing together,
walking together and discovering life together. I found myself promising God
that I would be a very good dog if only He would let her notice me and make her
want to take me home. As she looked across the yard at me, I gently wagged my
tail.
She asked them about me.
"Oh,” they said, “I don't
think you want that one. He plays rough with the others. He almost killed one
of the younger ones.”
I felt bad when they said that but
she didn't seem bothered by it. She didn't seem bothered at all.
“I kind of like him anyway, but…”
she continued, “They say sometimes a dog picks you rather than you picking the
dog." She gestured toward my brother in her lap and said, "Maybe this
one is picking me. Maybe I'm supposed to take him?"
Oh no, I said to her, you aren’t
supposed to take him. You’re supposed to take me.
All the while she was looking over
at me instead of at the one in her lap. It made me feel special, the way she
looked at me.
The puppy mill lady went over to
her, took my brother from out of her lap, and they continued talking. I
couldn't understand what they were saying, but she kept looking over at me.
"Well, guess what?" the
puppy mill lady finally said, "It’s official. All this guy wants is a warm
lap. I don't think he is choosing you at all."
My heart did flip-flops! I lifted
my head and looked at her in anticipation. Sure enough, she came right over to
me and sat down at the edge of my cardboard bed.
“May I sit with you?” she asked.
Oh yes! I said, wagging my tail
in welcome.
"I think this is the
one," she said.
Oh I was so happy! I couldn't wait
to go home with her! I didn't really like this place that was my first home.
Then she took me completely by
surprise. She went and left me there! She talked a little more to the puppy
mill lady and the next thing I knew, she was leaving! She kept looking at me
with a sweet look of longing even as she walked back through the gate and
closed the latch. I put my head down again, accepting the fact that I might not
have a forever home.
♡
Sample more here or order on Amazon.com and other Amazon locations worldwide.
Remember that everything feels right when a new pet is right for you. You will be put in the right place at the right time. The process is smooth and easy. Sometimes the pet will come to you without your having to do anything. You usually feel it in your heart when its right. The price is always right because you want that pet and you will pay the price. 
