“Oh, honey, can you watch my food for a minute” I said tonight before Michael and I sat down for dinner. Then we stopped in our tracks and looked at each other. Just a few days ago, we said a very sad farewell to Joanna… our food thief extraordinaire for the last 14 years. We had to guard our plates and counters every second… and we both wished we could do that again tonight. Joanna was a one-of-a-kind, happy, silly, loving, sweet natured, slobbering labrador retriever… and she needs a proper tribute.
Some of you may recall that Joanna was the WORST puppy ever. This cannot be overstated. Read my story, “Meet Joanna. She may be my unraveling” to get the full picture. I did a few follow up stories on my blog as she improved… but, boy, as a puppy – she took the cake (literally!). When she was a couple of months old, I called Michael and told him, “I’m not coming home, I need my own apartment.” I didn’t feel the house was big enough for me and Joanna. A few tears and glasses of wine later, I stayed and hired a personal dog trainer. She probably trained me more than Jojo, but it definitely helped.
Jojo tore into our lives like a Tasmanian devil. She kept biting me, tearing at my clothes… she chewed up everything from my Nook, one of those so-called invincible OtterBox phone cases, toys, wicker, electric wires, my coffee table, throw pillows, a beautiful chair-and-a-half (that became a designer dog bed), paper towels, you name it. Nothing was safe. She was a notorious food thief. And super fast. She would steal anything off the counter or, if she could manage it, out of your hand – she was always on the lookout. When we were eating dinner (especially with guests, because they didn’t know what they were dealing with), she would go around the table, and if there was an opening in the perimeter, she would make a dive for it. She stole a stick of butter, a whole ball of fresh mozzarella, a big fresh loaf of Italian bread, and an entire sandwich right out of my hand (on Mother’s Day to add insult to injury). I remember my dad, Bill Nagle, sitting across the table from me that day – yelling, “Oh my god! She’s a beast!” He thought she was hysterical. She grabbed a burger out of my cousin’s son’s hand and ate my nephew’s burger from All American (that he was soooo craving). Someone brought a cake over one night, and she dove for it – got a big chunk right out of the side before I knew it. Chocolate too… she didn’t even get a tummy upset. She ate everything. One day I had to give her a pill for something, can’t remember what… and I was looking at it trying to decide what yummy thing I could hide it in… and she was looking up at me, looking at the pill. So, I just put the pill in front of her, and chomp. It was gone. She was clumsy and blissfully unaware of personal space. She was a stuffed animals worst nightmare and went through I don’t know how many dog beds. Oh, I almost forgot… she dropped a bone on my foot and broke my big toe.
But once she calmed down a bit and got out of the toddler stage — what an amazing girl. She was all sweetness, love and goodness through and through. She loved us so much. And she loved everybody. Children could do anything to her. If someone fell on her or stepped on her, she didn’t care. If a kid pulled her ears, she’d give a lick. Never flinched. Wasn’t scared of anything. Nothing made her jumpy, not even lightning. Every morning, when she saw me, she would wiggle with delight and lean up against me (of course, standing on my foot – the no personal space thing never went away). She was packed with personality. Her zoomies were hilarious. She would dream and run in her sleep and make little woof noises. She would try to get bugs in the yard, hopping and chomping in the air. She ran like the wind (especially when she escaped the yard!)
We got Emma a few years ago – the sweetest little mini-hotdog. All of 3 1/2 lbs when she arrived… I was a little nervous about what 68 lb rambunctious Joanna was going to do. But she was gentle and playful with her. I couldn’t believe how careful she was not to step on her. They played like maniacs… and I took videos non-stop and laughed my head off. Looking through all the photos today, it was so heartwarming to see how incredibly close Emma and Joanna were. They were always together. They snuggled up, played, chewed sticks and dug holes together. They were pals and loved each other, from the very beginning.
Dogs really are the best people.
Everyone loved Jojo… when anyone came to the house, they would be greeted by her sweet face, no bark, just wanting to gently say hello. And everyone knew to guard their plates. After she died, one of my dear friends sent me a note saying, “May her countertops always be filled for a party and only 2′ tall”… another wrote, “Jojo was the best! She’s up there stealing food off counters” and “Sweet Jojo. I hope she’s someplace where she can steal food without consequences” and another, “I hope she’s having sticks of butter and steaks in heaven.” I love that everyone got such a kick out of her. I know I did. Yes, she almost pushed me over the edge when she was a baby – but damn, she turned out to be the very best doggie. And I was her person – she followed me around all day and slept next to me while I worked. And when I would look over at her… she would look up at me with those soft puddles of brown eyes and I would melt.
I saw something the other day that said, Loved one are not gone. They’ve just gone ahead. I love that… see you again, Jojo. Thanks for all the love. xxxooo
Dawn Nagle 