A dog that started life unwanted and untrained has found a new life helping children as a therapy dog.
Jake the pit bull arrived at the shelter when he was just a year old. Overwhelmed and excitable at the sights and sounds of a new place—he was labeled as reactive as he would pull and jump.
Because of his size, strength, and lack of understanding of personal space, Jake was considered problematic which meant that his life was at risk.
Luckily, Jake was given a second chance when he was added to a list of dogs that would be moved to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
Around the time Best Friends Animal Sanctuary opened in 1984, U.S. shelters were euthanizing an estimated 17 million dogs and cats every year. That figure has since fallen to about 355,000, according to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary 2021 dataset. Not always because the animals are sick, American Humane reports that cats and dogs are euthanized by shelters to solve overcrowding issues and where they are not seen as fit for adoption.
This no-kill nonprofit organization in the canyons of southern Utah is home to thousands of dogs, cats, birds, bunnies, horses, and other animals. One of the largest of its kind, the sanctuary became Jake's new home where staff helped him to improve his behavior.
"Caregivers worked with Jake on basic cues such as 'sit' as well as leash skills," a spokesperson for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary told Newsweek. "In a quieter environment with time and space to unwind, it was possible to observe and understand Jake's behavior."
With things finally looking up for Jake, it was about to get even better when psychologist, play therapist and president of the International Institute for Animal Assisted Play Therapy Risë VanFleet was looking for a new addition to her family.
On the hunt for a pet and potential new recruit to help with play therapy, VanFleet received a text from friend and volunteer at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Susan Fishbein.
"I know of this great dog who might be really well-suited to play therapy," wrote Fishbein in a text.
Play therapy involves using play, toys, and lighthearted activities as a way for children, teenagers and families to connect and express their feelings with a therapist. Meanwhile, animal-assisted therapy uses interaction with animals to support therapies.
Animal Assisted Play Therapy (AAPT) blends the two together, engaging playfulness and animals for mental health and educational support.
"She sent me pictures. She sent me videos. I asked for more videos," VanFleet told Newsweek. "The more I saw, the more I liked."
After some more thought, VanFleet decided that she wanted to adopt Jake, and from the moment he arrived in his new home in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, the learning began.
VanFleet spent time observing Jake and helping him take in his new environment.
"The other dogs liked him right away," said VanFleet. She introduced them one at a time, and Jake adjusted his play style to match their energy. Soon, he was regularly squeezing onto a chair with his new brother, Murrie, and finding new, entertaining ways to contort around him.
Training continued as Jake learned about patience and impulse control and before long he was ready for his first job.
"If my dogs work at all—and they don't always—it's because they want to, they enjoy it and they're suited for it," said VanFleet. "But the work is fun, and that's part of it."
After four months in his new home, Jake joined VanFleet and the other dogs for his very first workshop and was instantly a hit.
"From the beginning, Jake was a professional," said the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
"One of our activities is to do some consent testing, where we try to do something [with him] for three seconds, stop, and see how he reacts—almost nothing that triggered him in any way," said VanFleet.
When he wasn't busy interacting with the group, Jake played alone with toys and looked after himself.
"I'm really pleased with how he's doing so far," beamed VanFleet. "I think he's going to be a great play therapy dog. If for some reason he doesn't work so well with families—and so far, I haven't seen any sign that he won't—he's going to be a great workshop dog."
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
UPDATE 11/17/22, 03:25 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional data on shelter animals.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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