Joy-Joy is Gone, RIP

Our beloved, blind cocker spaniel, Joy-Joy, rescued from a Los Angeles shelter three years ago at an estimated 14 years of age has just passed.

Joy was inseparable from Mo-Mo, a neurologically challenged chihuahua mix, one part sheep, one part lion, rescued from the Bakersfield shelter. This photo was taken on New Years Eve, 2007.

Mo quickly learned to love Joy and would never leave her side. No matter where she was, he was there. Here, he is asleep with Joy as she passes with us around and the big dogs not far away. He will be lonely.

Joy was (is) an exceptional dog. Blind when coming here, she quickly learned the routes to water and outside and nose to the floor, never lost her path. She was quick to wag her tail and loved to be held. Sleeping was a sport.

Three months ago, when being groomed, Joy had a heart attack on the grooming table. The groomer rushed her to the vet where she was medicated and stabilized. This is the kindest and most gentle and loving groomer you can imagine. She was traumatized. She grooms all our rescue animals at no cost to us, many of which we acquired from her sister who is a shelter puller (an extremely hard job) who pulls from a despicable shelter in San Bernardino. Both women are extremely gentle and extraordinarily kind.

Many of our animals, if not in pain, die at home here without the stress of car rides, veterinary technicians, stainless steel cages, needles, tubes and other bothersome things. So it is with Joy. I wish it was possible for them all.

I have a statue of St. Francis holding a cat with a dog standing up on its hind legs upon his leg. The dog looks like Joy perhaps when she was younger and could see.

Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our friends the animals, especially for animals who are suffering;
for animals that are overworked,
underfed and cruelly treated;
for all wistful creatures in captivity that beat their wings against bars;
for any that are hunted or lost or deserted or frightened or hungry;
for all that must be put to death. We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity, and for those who deal with them we ask a heart of compassion and gentle hands and kindly words. Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals, and so to share the blessings of the merciful.
--Albert Schweitzer

Should you feel inclined, you can light a candle for Joy Joy here.

Peace be with her. And thank you for your prayers.

We are sad and will miss her.