“I couldn’t do this journey without him.”
Wherever there’s Jashaad, there’s Declan close behind—and they wouldn’t have it any other way.
Jashaad adopted Declan, then named Buddy, from the Saratoga County Animal Shelter when he was just seven months old.
“I was working as a car salesman at the time,” Jashaad recalls. “I called the animal shelter and asked if I could put down a deposit on him that day and come meet him tomorrow. They were like, ‘Um… that’s not really how this works.'”
So Jashaad went to meet him that very day, and the connection was instant.
Not long after, a string of hardships turned Jashaad’s life upside down. He lost both his job and his apartment in the same week, forcing him to make what many would consider an impossible choice: accept temporary housing with a family member or keep his beloved rescue dog.
For Jashaad, there was never really a decision to make.
“I was like, ‘Okay, I guess we’re going on an adventure.'”
Together, Jashaad and Declan lived out of his car, staying in hotels whenever they could. Determined to keep moving forward, Jashaad worked as an Uber Eats driver and Instacart shopper, bringing Declan—his registered emotional support animal—along for every shift. Jashaad and his faithful companion briefly stayed at a friend’s while caring for her dogs, but when the home was sold, he once again needed a safe place to land.
After researching his options, Jashaad reached out to Shelters of Saratoga and was able to stay at the SOS Summer Motel in May 2025, along with Declan.
That fall, he secured a position with a local funding company. The company generously provided temporary lodging while he worked and saved toward his own apartment. Declan quickly became a favorite around the office, and Jashaad thrived in his new role.
When the company later consolidated office locations, however, the temporary housing arrangement came to an end. Jashaad and Declan spent February and March moving between Airbnbs. Soon after, Jashaad lost his job and, once again, found himself without stable housing.
He called Shelters of Saratoga to see if there was space at the Summer Motel.
Fortunately, there was.
Jashaad and Declan returned for the 2026 summer season.
Known affectionately as “Governor” by fellow Summer Motel guests, Jashaad now works for Shelters of Saratoga, helping Program Manager Natalie keep things running smoothly.
“I love being back and working at SOS,” he says. “I’m so thankful to them, especially Natalie and Stephanie.”
Declan has become everyone’s comfort companion, happily accepting pets and affection from guests and staff alike.
When asked what it means to have gone through so much with Declan by his side, Jashaad doesn’t hesitate.
“I couldn’t do this journey without him. He’s my road dog.”
After spending a year on an apartment waitlist, Jashaad is finally preparing for his next chapter. At the beginning of August, he and Declan will move from the Summer Motel into a place they can finally call home.
“I have a place to stay, and I’m working, and now the apartment… It’s too perfect.”
Looking ahead, Jashaad dreams of opening his own dog walking and training business. And if Declan is any indication of Jashaad’s patience, dedication, and talent, that dream is well within reach.
At Shelters of Saratoga, stories like Jashaad’s remind us that housing is more than a roof overhead—it’s the foundation for stability, healing, and hope. Sometimes, having one loyal companion beside you can make all the difference on the journey home.