Help Bring Corduroy Home: Support Animals - Mental Wellness

Help Us Bring Corduroy Home: Pets are More Than Property - A Journey of Mental Wellness and Trauma Recovery | 15% of every dollar donated to Golden State Humane Society

"Trauma creates change you don’t choose. Healing is about creating change you do choose."

On June 11, 2024, I lost my best friend of nine years, Jacob Peck, at just 39 years old. Jacob was more than a friend—he was family. He was my confidant, a compassionate soul who faced life’s hardest battles with courage. Jacob struggled with past trauma and, for years, sometimes used alcohol and drugs as a way to escape those wounds. But in the last three years of his life, he chose a different path: one of rehabilitation, recovery, and self-discovery. I was honored to walk beside him every step of the way, offering unconditional love and support as he bravely confronted his demons.

Jacob was not addicted to alcohol or drugs, they were simply the vehicles that brought him to the place where his demons lived. Those deep wounds of trauma and the weight of depression often brought him to moments of despair and even thoughts of suicide. He loved socializing and partying with friends, like many of us, but for Jacob, alcohol was a double-edged sword. It provided a temporary escape, but it also stirred up painful memories ("episodes"), leaving him feeling powerless and consumed by self-loathing when he felt he had gone too far.

Amid his struggles, Jacob found hope in a tiny Maltipoo puppy named Corduroy. With his therapists permission I encouraged Jacob to get a puppy because I knew how much he needed something to ground him and bring light to those dark days if he felt he didn't have the strength to get through another "episode." I understood the weight of responsibility a puppy might bring, so we made a pact: we would get her together, and if caring for her ever became too much, she would live with me instead and he'd still see her all the time. I knew that the unconditional love and stability a puppy could offer might be exactly what Jacob needed to keep moving forward... and I was right.

Corduroy turned out to be so much more than just a pet. She became Jacob’s lifeline, his steadying force, and a source of endless joy—a bright, unwavering anchor that kept him grounded, and accountable to himself to stay on his chosen path.

Corduroy saved his life many times… until the day she couldn’t. She gave him a reason to keep fighting and a bond rooted in hope, healing, and unconditional love. Jacob considered Corduroy, me and my pup Reagan his “pack family,” and my home became the supportive, safe, family home he yearned for his entire life.

We bought Corduroy together, I named her, trained her, and shared in raising and caring for her with Jacob. I am listed as her secondary caregiver on her medical records, reflecting my responsibility in ensuring her medical needs were met. This designation is the only legally documented and signed evidence of Jacob’s wishes regarding Corduroy, as he did not leave a will.

When Jacob's family asked if I believed he had committed suicide, I responded emphatically, "No, he would never leave Corduroy!" That was the very reason he got her—to give him a renewed sense of purpose and responsibility. When they asked if I thought he had overdosed, I explained that through his recovery he had moved light years beyond his reliance on drugs.

Jacob's passing was the result of a tragic accident: a concussion from a nasty bump on the head that he chose to ignore. Five days later, he went to sleep and never woke up.

After he passed another heartbreaking injustice occurred. Corduroy was taken by “a friend” that Jacob did not trust himself to be around when he was sober, and who he did not trust to care for Corduroy. That day "the friend" separated Corduroy from Jacob's other fur baby Angelo. The family Jacob created was instantly ripped apart. This "friend" has denied me the opportunity to bring her back to the only other home and family Corduroy had ever known.

Currently Corduroy now lives in a transient and unstable environment, while I, who work from home and can provide her with constant care, am being forced to fight for her return in Probate Court.

This is not just a fight for Corduroy’s custody—it’s a fight for Jacob’s legacy as a courageous warrior who walked through his trauma and the stigma of mental wellness, to release himself from it's grip.

Why This Fight Matters

• Animal Welfare: Corduroy deserves a loving, stable home where her needs are met. She has already shown signs of neglect in her current situation, and I am determined to protect her well-being.

• Honoring Jacob’s Memory: Corduroy was Jacob’s lifeline, a symbol of his strength and recovery. He trusted me to care for her, and I owe it to him to fulfill that promise.

• Advocating for Mental Wellness: Jacob’s journey was a testament to the courage it takes to confront trauma and choose healing. Corduroy was a part of that journey, and her story highlights the critical role psychiatric support animals play in mental health recovery. Jacob's proudest accomplishment was the progress he made on his trauma recovery journey.

• Raising Awareness for Pet Custody Rights: This case shines a light on the need for legal protections for animals, especially those who provide emotional support to their owners. Pets are not property—they are family.

FreeCorduroy is a website I created to honor Jacob's legacy. My goal is to make it a valuable resource for others navigating similar pet custody challenges. By sharing my experiences alongside Jacob’s journey, I hope to contribute to the destigmatization of mental health struggles and provide meaningful insights into trauma recovery.

I cannot speak for Jacob's bio-family but they seem to be in denial about Jacob's courageous mental health journey and the vital role Corduroy played in his recovery, has chosen to support the so-called "friend" who stole Corduroy. They didn’t even extend the courtesy of a compassionate call to the friend who discovered Jacob’s lifeless body.

Allowing Corduroy, the love of Jacob's life who was central to Jacob’s healing, to remain in a toxic environment—memories of which Jacob fought so hard to escape—feels like an act of profound disrespect to his memory and everything he stood for.

Why This Fight Matters

How You Can Help

The legal costs of fighting for Corduroy’s return are becoming overwhelming. Adding to the heartbreak, Jacob’s family is willing to use his own money to fight against returning her to me—to the only other home she’s ever known. Knowing I cannot afford to do so, they are now forcing me to fight for her in Probate Court.

I am determined to not let his bio-family tear apart the family Jacob chose and built for himself— grounded in love and healing, where we fight for each other more than we ever fight with each other.

Any contribution you make will go directly toward attorney fees and court costs. 15% of all donations will be donated in Jacob’s name to the Golden State Humane Society in Long Beach, CA.

Here’s how you can support:

1. Donate: Every dollar counts in this fight for Corduroy’s future.

2. Share: Spread the word about this campaign to friends, family, and animal lovers who believe in the right of every pet to live in a safe, loving home.

3. Follow Our Progress: Visit the FreeCorduroy website to stay updated on our journey and @freecorduroy on social media.

If you’ve ever loved someone who struggled with addiction, mental health challenges, or trauma, you know the gut wrenching pain of watching them fight to reclaim their lives. Jacob’s courage deserves to be honored, and Corduroy deserves to live in the home filled with love and security that Jacob trusted me to provide.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing with us and helping to bring Corduroy home to her family. Together, we can honor Jacob’s memory and ensure that Corduroy continues to be a source of love, joy, and hope as the trauma-recovery support animal she was.