[Dog mom: Jessica Powers]

Clarice is not your typical dog. She’s not affectionate, cuddly, or even particularly smart. She bites and barks and guards her food. But she’s taught me how to love unconditionally and how to accept someone even when they aren’t perfect.

I picked Clarice up from Austin Pets Alive! in October 2013. APA! had posted on Facebook about needing fosters desperately, and I wanted to help. I already had two cats at home, so I knew I couldn’t keep a dog for long, since I’d have to hide it from my landlord. I replied to the plea and picked up Clarice that day. I remember texting my mom a photo of her, saying, “They gave me a rat.” For having such a big personality, Clarice is a very tiny dog at just six pounds.

We don’t know much about Clarice’s history. She was brought in as a stray to Austin Animal Center and was quickly transferred to APA!, and she's always been what we call a "lap shark": a tiny lap dog that is bitey. Most lap sharks chill out when they get out of the shelter environment and turn out to be loving, cuddly dogs. Not Clarice. She has maintained her lap shark status for six years now, and she doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

Her behavior has improved significantly since I first brought her home, but she’ll never be a “normal” dog, and that’s ok. I didn’t intend on keeping her, but after a year with her, I realized that she’d have a very hard time finding an adopter that understood her quirks. And by then I already loved her, bites and all. I wanted to keep her safe, and the best way I knew how was to adopt her.