'Jake From State Farm' Finally Gets His Forever Home

BURLINGTON, NC — An 8-year-old dog named “Jake from State Farm” has finally found his forever home after a string of bad luck had landed the pup at Burlington Animal Services four times over the course of three months.

Jake was adopted March 19 by Kim Murray, a woman who lives nearby in Hillsborough, after his story went viral when The Charlotte Observer called him the "world's most unlucky pet." Lois Dixon, the shelter's foster coordinator, told The Durham Herald-Sun that Murray didn't even meet with Jake before deciding to adopt him.

“She said that his face touched her heart and she was prepared to give him a wonderful home. In her email, she gave vet references ... to make sure that we knew she would be a good pet owner,” Dixon said.

The shelter was bombarded with phone calls from people across the United States asking to adopt Jake or to sponsor his adoption fee after hearing about his story. And a local State Farm branch even surprised the shelter with a $1,500 grant, according to a post on the shelter’s Facebook page. The shelter said it will use the money toward its medical care fund.

Dixon told the Herald-Sun the shelter did receive several serious adoption offers but went with Murray because she was the fastest one to get the process started. Murray also has two dogs that Jake can play with, she added.

Rescuers found Jake in January “stressed, scared and hungry” after being trapped in a crate for several days when his owner died, The Observer reported. With his owner's family unable to take him, he was sent to the shelter.

It was at Burlington Animal Services where Jake gained the “from State Farm” moniker by staff members after the insurance company’s commercials that feature a character of the same name. The shelter even occasionally dressed the dog up in a red State Farm shirt.

He was quickly adopted by a family who, however, had to return Jake several weeks later after losing their home, according to the paper. Two other families took him in but quickly brought him back after finding out the dog didn’t mesh well with the homes’ cats.

Jake’s latest adoption by Murray is one that will last, Dixon told the Herald-Sun.

“Throughout his stay with us, Jake was always happy. He seemed to make the best of the situation,” she said. “We may have felt sorry for Jake’s misfortunes, but he seemed to rise above it all. Dogs have the amazing ability to do just that.”