Home»All Photographs»18.04.18.Jessie Bear - Ronks, PA to Cape Cod

This gallery is very special to Pam and I. For some period of time we have had a reservation for "Jesus" a presentation of Sight and Sound Theater in Strassburg, PA.

Sight and Sound has the largest stage east of the Mississippi. If my memory is accurate, it totally dwarfs Radio City Music Hall.

At any rate, this gallery isn't about that experience (as good as it was). No, this gallery is about discovering that there are approximately 10 Amish Akita breeders within a few miles of Strassburg.

For years I have refused to consider owning another dog after having to put one down about 25 years ago. But over the years I have often remembered the wonderful experience of owning an Akita that came straight from Japan via an Airforce Service Officer. In my mind, no other dog compared to her.

Recently through the strong encouragement of my son, stepson, and wonder of wonders, Pam, I began considering dog ownership again. Over several months of looking at different breeds (we couldn't find any Akita puppies in the northeast) I found that five Amish breeders in Pennsylvania had puppies available.

So we went to PA a day before Sight and Sound and met puppies from six different litters. We narrowed it down to two pups which we visited again the next morning. This time it became very clear that if we could not make the choice, the puppy would do it for us. Her breeder and best friend was Jesse an Amish farmer who bred several breeds on the side -- all meeting the requirements of the AKC. He was so special to us that we told him that we wanted his "Abby" but wanted to name her after him, hence Jessie Bear. This moved him to tears, Jessie Bear was his favorite. He hoped that by pricing her above the others she would be the last to go. It almost worked, but Allison became the last as her leg had been broken and she was in no condition to be adopted. So, when we came for Jessie she was standing in the door of the barn, all alone, waiting for us. It was as if she knew what was going on. Just before I put her in the car, she went over to Jesse and looked up at him as if to say, "Well, I guess this is goodbye. Right?" Check out the photo, you'll be convinced. Jessie Bear was almost 4 months when we picked her up. At that time we also said goodbye to her mother, Lisa, who also seemed to know what was going on. Look at Lisa, she is about 100 lbs, approximately the size to which our little Bear will grow.
So far, Jessie has been remarkably adaptive. Before we met her, she had lived in a barn with other dogs and barn animals. Her human family rode in a horse drawn buggy and she was totally unaccustomed to modern civilization.

In a few short hours she was introduced to the back seat of an automobile, 2 walks in the midst of loud, smelly diesel trucks, a totally different kind of home on cape cod, large neighborhood dogs that looked like they wanted to eat her, walks on three different beaches, a play date with my brother's Appenzeller Mountain Dog (the craziest and most athletic ocean jumper you will ever see), multiple nature call trips around the house, and being left alone in a crate once while we took a short bike ride and once when we went to church. Through all of this, she never seems to get over excited or phased by anything. She walks on a leash without pulling, and comes when called.

In this Gallery, share the excitement of choosing the next member of our family. In only three days, she seems to have totally adapted to our way of life. Here's hoping it continues. We feel blessed.