Rocky Is Clark-Garwood's Pet Of The Week

CLARK, NJ — Meet Rocky! He has been chosen as Clark-Garwood Patch's Pet Of The Week.

"German Shepherd ESA Rocky has been a tremendous positive presence in my life since COVID and the passing of my mini schnauzer Jackson during COVID lockdown. I used to take my schnauzer Jack to Camp K Nine for daycare and it was there that we had met Rocky. Rocky was a surrender to the camp's owner as his previous owners just couldn't handle such a big dog after having a newborn.

It was there that Jackson and myself became puppy friends with Rocky and they would play and got along very well. After Jack's passing in October, my anxiety heightened, losing my best friend during this already anxiety-filled time was just awful for me. The owner of the camp reached out and asked if I would like to adopt Rocky, so I had taken him home for a weekend to see how he would adapt to me.

The same day I brought Rocky to my home was the same day I was called by my vet to let me know Jack's ashes were ready for pick up, and it was then that I knew Rocky was for me. After a tearful night of having my schnauzers ashes home, Rocky just laid with me, comforted me, let me pet him and followed me everywhere I went that day… and all his days after because it was then I knew then that I needed to adopt him!

It felt as if this was Jack's way of saying I am going to be OK and that he led his new friend to my heart to help me heal. Even though I can and will never forget my Jack, I feel that a part of him is living in Rocky and it was meant to be. I made Rocky my ESA, had him trained at the dog camp and we are now happy as can be!

Rocky and Jack also have an Instagram feel free to check them out… @just_jack_and_rocky."

— Elisia Hernandez, Clark

Do you think your pet should be Clark-Garwood's Pet of the Week?

Participating in the Pet of the Week happenings is simple: submit your nomination by emailing alexis.tarrazi@patch.com with the subject line "Clark-Garwood Pet Of The Week." Be sure to include a photograph or two of your pet, a paragraph about what makes him or her so great, the town you're from, and your name.

Then just keep an eye out for a photo of your pet on the Patch!

The photo can be of a present pet, or it can be a baby picture of the adult pet you're so proud of today. All photos must be the property of the submitter. By submitting a photo to Patch the submitter agrees to give permission for it to be published on Patch.

Additionally, selected winners each week will be given a digital gift certificate for a free pet wash when they stop at In-N-Out Dog Pet Services at 300 North Ave. in Garwood. And winners can also bring their pet into the store for a picture. In-N-Out will put them up on their Facebook page as well.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.