In 2013, when she was only six months old, Jessica was surrendered to a New York City shelter by a person who claimed she was a stray dog. The shelter staff noticed that Jessica had recently had puppies, but did not know where they could be found.
Additionally, Jessica had a condition called mange which occurs when mites burrow into the skin. On top of all that, this pup was also struggling with multiple infections.
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“She had horrible, horrible mange — really bad,” said Cassiah Ward, a volunteer with Second Change Rescue. “The best way I can describe it is that she looked like a plucked chicken. She also had small secondary infections — she had scabs and then she developed kennel cough.”
Jessica was deemed unadoptable by the shelter and placed on the euthanasia list. But then Second Chance Rescue stepped in to pull her from the shelter and give her a shot at a new life.
At first, things looked good for Jessica. A couple met her and decided to adopt her, but within a few months, the situation changed.
“She wound up being adopted by a couple who seemed committed and we took it very slow,” Ward said. “They visited her a couple times, then they did an overnight, and then they were sure they wanted her. Fast forward five months, they changed their minds and said they couldn’t keep her anymore.”
From there, Jessica stayed at a boarding kennel for a year before moving to the Forever Home Rehabilitation Center which partners with Second Chance Rescue. Another family adopted her, but again, she was returned shortly after that.
“They had a 2-year-old and the wife was eight months pregnant at the time,” Ward said. “A couple months later, [Jessica] was returned. It was nothing that she did — they just had a newborn baby and a toddler, and didn’t have time for her.”
Then a family saw Jessica, fell in love with her, and adopted her --- only to bring her back three days later after they found out their landlord didn't allow pit bulls or pit bull mixes. This loss had a profound impact on Jessica.
“When she was in Virginia and returned the second time, I think she was definitely affected by that,” Ward said. “I saw pictures of her, and she just looked sad. Even for the most resilient dog (and she’s pretty resilient), I can’t imagine being bounced around that much.”
Jessica was returned to Second Chance Rescue in New York and was adopted then returned yet again. She was placed with a foster, but he went into the hospital for surgery. And Jessica went back to a boarding facility.
“The place where she is now — she’s kind of happy, but kind of sad,” Ward said. “She’s comfortable there. But at the same time, it’s not a home — it’s boarding.”
Ward visits Jessica and interacts with her as often as she can. She would gladly adopt Jessica, however, she already owns another dog and Jessica needs to be the only dog in the house.
“She needs to be the only pet, but I think that there’s a misconception that she’s wild and crazy, but she’s really not,” Ward said. “And even though she can’t be around other dogs … she doesn’t go crazy when she sees another dog. If you pass at a distance, she feels comfortable and just ignores them.”
Jessica loves being around people, is good on a leash, and enjoys mental and physical challenges, like agility courses.
“She is the most affectionate dog,” Ward added. “You cannot take her for a walk without every other person stopping to say hello to her because she’s so, so sweet. She’ll stop and she’ll look at people, and then she’ll stand in place and wiggle and she taps her feet around — it looks like she’s tap dancing.”
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Jessica is desperately in need of a lasting, forever home where she can live the rest of her life happy, healthy, and loved. Could you open up your home to Jessica? You can find her Petfinder.com information here. Please share her story with your friends and family on Facebook, and let's find this pup a permanent home!