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Our story began on September 19, 2012, when my mom went to the Nebraska Humane Society to adopt a dog. She wasn’t used to an empty house and thought a dog would be the perfect way to fill it.

Brandy Andrews

That’s where Jessie James came in—a 34-pound, 2-year-old Beagle-Shepherd mix. She lay quietly by her kennel door so my mom could let her out. My mom thought she seemed calm and small enough to manage with training.

After the paperwork was finished, my mom called me, her daughter Brandy. Before she could finish her sentence, I asked her to pick me up so I could meet the puppy. We later learned Jessie had been transferred from St. Joseph, Missouri—home of the Jesse James Museum and where my longtime boyfriend was from—so the name stuck.

Brandy Andrews

Jessie was brand new to cars and preferred chewing her leash over walking on it. Within the first month, it became clear she wasn’t calm or trained at all. I helped as much as I could, but then my mom needed unexpected surgery on both her knee and wrist. She considered returning Jessie.

I couldn’t allow that. I was in tears. Instead, we created a schedule where Jessie split her time between my apartment and my mom’s. She’s now 15 years old and still follows that same routine.

Brandy Andrews

From Monday through Thursday, Jessie goes to work with my boyfriend Jake at a car wash, where she gets plenty of outdoor playtime. On weekends, she stays with my mom—her grandma. She’s a total daddy’s girl, spoiled more than most kids, and she makes our day every single day.

Story submitted by Brandy Andrews

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!