THE DOG WHO CHOSE HIS PERSON

"Instead of me rescuing him, he rescued me.."

— Jacob Scheminske

Jacob walked into Jacksonville Humane Society in November 2022 ready to find his best friend. He never imagined his best friend would find him first.

Maverick, then known as Astro, had been found wandering the streets as a stray. The energetic young dog immediately caught Jacob's attention. He was handsome, eager for treats, and already knew how to sit politely. But it was what happened next that made the decision easy.

The moment Maverick entered the visiting room, he jumped into Jacob's lap and covered him with kisses.

Within minutes, Jacob knew he had found the dog he had been searching for.

Today, Maverick fills every day with laughter. He insists on collecting his "ice tax" whenever someone uses the freezer, believes a 60-pound dog belongs in every lap, and can spend hours chasing squeaky tennis balls before cooling off in a hole he's proudly dug himself. At home, he adores cuddling with his family, while trips to Brewhound Dog Park mean splashing through the fountain with his friends and his beloved basset hound sister, Maya.

Jacob often tells people that adopting from a shelter changed his life.

He went to Jacksonville Humane Society hoping to rescue a dog.

Instead, Maverick rescued him.