Jerry, the local Familiar Trader, is an alternate route to obtain a familiar -- and get items for them! If you don't enjoy randomization and guessing -- and want to pick your own familiar - then Jerry is your guy! Familiars are able to be bought for 50 coins from him, and only three of the four familiar species -- Kiwi, Cats, or Dragons -- are able to be bought from him. Taz is the only one to assign a White Wolf, so if you are looking for a wolf of your own -- you'll have to take your chances with Taz!
When you arrive in front of Jerry, you'll (gently) need to walk into him to receive an emit text prompting you to say !familiars for a familiar pop-up -- if you have enough coins. He'll remind you Taz exists (to obtain a familiar for free), and tell you if you do not have enough -- and you'll have to seek out more coins from the Wilds (or the spar rings) to be able to buy from him.
Once you're able to buy a familiar, he'll give you your options and commands to type to obtain one. Once purchased, your familiar icon will appear in the left-hand side panel to click on to see your familiar's stats.
Each familiar is granted a level (level 1) and assigned defense, strength, attack, happiness level, and experience points to start with.
These stats will increase as your familiar levels up.
About HAP: Familiar HAP (happiness) is the most important STAT for your familiar. Maximum HAP -- 10 -- is the happiest your familiar can be. You can get more HAP by going to Jerry and purchasing items from him. If they are below 1 HAP point, they cannot spar in any of the Familiar's Grove arenas.
Purchasing Items from Jerry: Once you have a familiar of your own, you'll be able to buy items from Jerry to increase their HAP to the maximum amount. Simply move in front of Jerry to get an emit box greeting and bump into him again to receive a different pop-up showing the items for sale, if you have at least 15 coins.
Three main ones will pop up first - each increasing your familiar's HAP by a randomized amount after purchase.
To see other options beyond the main three choices - you'll need to say !more, if you have at least 150 coins.
More Items from Jerry: There are four other items you may receive from Jerry if you have the coins to purchase. These are all useful items to have for your familiar when sparring them in the monster ring (called the A ring).
Fami-nip - also known as Familiar Nip, gives your familiar temporary HP
Lifesaver - Revives your familiar in battles
Cheribery - Increases your familiar's defense stat permanently
Perma-bed - increases HAP at a random interval
Once you say !more in front of Jerry, you'll see another pop-up with the items for sale and their coin allottment. An emit box will also pop up to tell you what they are and how to purchase them.
If you purchase any "more" items, they'll be transported to your purple bag to click and use in battle (for Lifesaver) or any other time you want (all besides Lifesaver).
If you click on your purple bag icon, you'll see your slots are now filled with your purchases and will disappear after use (excluding Lifesaver, which is a forever item).