Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/765213
20 | MACON MAGAZINE DECEMBER/JANUARY 2017 Faces 1. My husband and I rescued Jake in July 2014 and is 5 years old. He is a JackChi (Jack Russell/Chihuahua) mix. Sadly, he came from a dog hoarder who was forced to sign over custody to a rescue group. A lot of people say that hoarded dogs are not adoptable and have personality issues. Jake has proven everyone wrong! He won "best personality" this year at a local dog event at Macon Northside Hospital. He even got the attention of a former NFL football player, Brendon Ayanbadejo, of the Baltimore Ravens on Jake's Facebook page, Jake the JackChi. He loves attention, belly rubs, squeaky toys, and playing in the backyard. He dislikes car rides, baths, and being dressed up. He has given us such great joy! We look forward to many more years of love and fun. Please adopt, don't shop. -Ashleigh Deakin 2. This is Bert and he is a 5-year-old orange tabby that grew up in the Cat House of All About Animals. I adopted him this year and my heart has only grown to love him more each day. He's sweet, well mannered, and so gentle and loving! I highly recommend adopting from rescues. These animals only want a family of their own to love. And really, when you adopt, sometimes you find it is the animals who rescue you in return! -Kim Harris 3. Boyd showed up at my parents in law's house the night my mother-in-law passed away three years ago. He was covered in fleas and weighed 78 pounds. While he was extremely sweet and well trained, he seemed lethargic at times. We tried to find his owner, but to no avail. A family friend offered to take him, so we reluctantly let him go. My husband felt wrong about that because he said his mother had sent him to us as her eyes and ears. But with so much to do with her unexpected death I was not ready to add another dog to our household. A month went by and the family friend suddenly died. A niece let me know that Boyd had been taken to the pound because no one could keep him. Late on a Friday night I spoke with my friends at this out of town animal control center and they met me there, opened it up and allowed me to claim him. He came straight to me, still skinny and still ill. Today he is healthy, neutered, weighs 100 pounds and has had eye lift surgery at UGA due to serious problems from his past care. He is my heart and is the best damn dog I've ever had. -Kelly Sullivan Joyner 4. Maggie, a herding dog mix, won my heart at Animal Care & Control of New York City 14 years ago by giving kisses and putting her chin on my knee. She was thinner than a greyhound. Now she's 15 and going strong, thanks to rehab and medication that helps with arthritis. She loves hikes in the woods, treats and meeting people. 5. Tank arrived at Athens-Clarke County Animal Control in 2012 as a 2-year-old outdoor dog. Now his hobbies are sitting on the sofa so he can be petted, hugging his dad, sneaking food left out, splashing water and barking at it, chasing woodland creatures, and doing a happy dance when anyone puts on tennis shoes. -Shannon Caldwell owns both Maggie and Tank. 1 2 3 4 5