My Loving Friend and Companion

JOJO was a very skinny, white, miniature poodle. He was given to me by my mother who had his sister named Aggy. Growing up I was not allowed any inside animals. I remember once I was given a Husky-mix and he was allowed to stay inside, in a cardboard box that we had. But just until he was old enough to be chained outside. My Mother and Father were afraid that the animals would end up going to the bathroom on our carpet or floors. I had lots of friends that had indoor animals and I was always envious of them.

I first remember seeing JOJO and his sister, Aggy one evening at our house. A friend of my mother's was there and he and his girlfriend had these two , white, puffy, dogs. They were all sitting in the living room, talking and enjoying the little dogs . I asked what kind of dogs they were and I was informed that they were miniature poodles. I was elated. My Grandmother had a poodle and I really thought they were smart and sweet. My Grandmothers dog was named Skipper. Now Skipper was a larger miniature poodle. He was very smart and caring. So when I saw these two little poodles, I immediately wished to have them. Un denounced to me , they were being given to my family, my mother, as a gift. I recall that it was for her and my Dad's anniversary. When I found out that JOJO was named Pierre , at first, I thought it a funny name. I later convinced my Mother to change his name to JOJO. This would prove to be the first step in the future for me and JOJO.

These two little dogs were very active. I remember taking them out to go pee pee and they would run in circles around each other across our front yard. It was the most funniest site to behold. JOJO would grunt as he ran very fast around his sister. He was so full of spirit and energy. I was the one that always took them outside to use the potty and alway walked them on a leash. Of course my mother was partial to the girl one, Aggy. I was partial to JOJO. They were not allowed to sleep with my Mother and Father at night, so I quickly took the opportunity to volunteer with that. I loved them sleeping in my bed. It gave me the sense that I was loved and protected. Imagine, two puffballs, laying on your neck as you sleep. You can hear them breathe, and sigh as you drift off to sleep. This was wonderful. I finally had my own pets and they were allowed in the house.

As they continued to grow and get smarter, they now could sit, when commanded, lay down, and fetch. Wonderful little friends. Aggy was injured when she was born and somehow ended up with a limp of sorts, and a sensitive leg. My mother was very cautious when picking her up or grooming her. She was our little fragile beauty. She weighed more than JOJO, and was shy and quieter. She loved laying right beside you when you were watching T.V. or things of that nature. JOJO was a very hyper one. he loved playing and he was very possessive of me. I remember times when for whatever reason, someone would approach me, he would stretched across my lap and growl a warning to whoever it was. He soon earned the reputation as hateful, from my Mother and Father.

To me he was just protective and I kinda liked that. He was never mean to me, and he never tried to bite me, either. Of course, others were not that lucky. While I was gone to college or working, JOJO and Aggy stayed in my room. Yes, My room. My Mother wanted them to be kept in a closed room, because she feared that they would go potty through the house, because of being left alone for so long. Mother and Father worked, through days, and at night, they were there, so the dogs were kept in my room, all day, until then. I would come home and find things that they had chewed up and things that they had played with, all over my bed and floor. this would be the part of having animals, I did not really care for. Cleaning up.

Around age 23, I decided I was going to finally leave the "nest". I was going to move out and live on my own(with a friend), and I wanted JOJO to go with me. So here I am , driving a little white Mazda pickup, things from my room loaded in the back and in the cab, and my white little poodle, JOJO beside me.

I wanted Aggy also but my mother said she could not part with her. She favored Aggy and thought JOJO to have some, "anger issues". Ha ha.

JOJO adjusted well to being without his sister. I was worried at first because the two of them loved each other so much and were inseparable. They had never been apart. JOJO was very possessive of his sister, Aggy, and kinda protected her also. Well here I am in a new place with my faithful friend, JOJO. Everything was turning out well. Everywhere I went I took my JOJO and every time someone would comment on him. They would point and stare and comment almost all the time.

JOJO liked hanging his head out the window. It was funny because his white curly haired ears would dangle, like the almost could fly their-selves. He would snort and sniff. He just loved that wind on his face. And I loved him. Yes, he was the best animal ever. I fed him Kibbles and Bits for along time, but when I found me a kitten, whom I named Daisy, I let him and her eat from the same bowl. He now preferred cat food. Yes, cat food , and I always fed him that. Daisy was a stray that I had found underground in a utility tunnel, at the place where I was then working. She was short haired and very active. JOJO was not real sure about her at first. Later on, the two became best friends. Daisy and JOJO laid together, ate together, and played together. They were the best.

JOJO as I have pointed out was very protective. He had a problem with anything, or anyone who came near me, or touched me. So it was not surprising when I found this guy I was interested in and we started dating, that JOJO would find this disturbing, to say the least. Every time my boyfriend would sit down, JOJO growled and took a stance, every time my boyfriend tried to kiss me, JOJO repeated his stance of growling and covering my lap. This was funny in some aspects but bad for my dating life. I always re-assured My boyfriend it would be safe.

Well, that boyfriend became my husband and with my husband and JOJO, Daisy, I then had three children. JOJO was still loyal even after I had my first child, he went everywhere I went, he sat where I sat and enjoyed hanging out the ,now, car, window. I loved him for all kinds of reasons, but the one I most loved him for was his dedication to me and now, my family. He got along well with my children, all three of them. Each time I became pregnant, he had to lay beside me on the couch, because my lap was expanding. I admired him for his patience. No matter where or what I was doing, JOJO would be there.

Later on in his life, he would become "blinded" from cataracts. He still walked about like a"pro" though. Sometimes though I wished he would rest , instead of try and follow me wherever I went. It was hard watching something I loved struggle. But he never whined or stopped following my footsteps. I arranged things to where he could follow a safe path through the house, and outside. He had difficulty going down steps, and later I carried him down them. He was strong and a fighter. He used a seat stool I placed at the bed to get up and go to sleep with me during the nights. I often bragged about his tenacity.

That one day I will not forget. I started the day like all days, taking care of my children and animals. I now had Daisy, JOJO, and a dog named Lady. Lady helped JOJO get around, he would follow her tail and know where to go. It was rather genius to watch them two. But this day JOJO was not wanting to follow Lady, he was making paces back and forth, and at the time, just looked restless. I put him and Lady on the back deck to go potty. I noticed that JOJO wasn't eating or drinking anything. I felt uneasy and kinda worried. As I was doing some chores, I noticed and heard a crying whelp. It was coming from out back, from JOJO! Worried and my heart racing I quickly went out to check on him. I was hoping that him and Lady was just "horsing around". But JOJO would not be consoled. He kept winning and pacing back and forth. I now knew I could not help him. I told my husband about him, and upon checking out the situation, he and I loaded up the family and took JOJO to a emergency clinic. It was Saturday and our vet was not working. We decided on the closest clinic.

I remember waiting in the waiting room, loads of thoughts racing in my mind. Trying to answer the questions that were coming from worried children and falling apart, inside. I did not want to loose my JOJO. I knew that I did not have the money to do much , in way of any surgical or operational endeavor. I would have done everything possible though, rational or not , just to save my JOJO. he was like my own child. I was now the protector, the one who needed to help. I found myself wishing for miracles, and wishing for more time. Alas, the on call vet came out and described some of the most painful, and worst scenarios possible. He said. "JOJO has dementia. He probably has cancer in his kidney, and possibly the first signs of heart disease." He explained that JOJO was lucky to have the general well being he had. He explained that Dementia has no cure. This is why he wondered about aimlessly. I was shattered. I asked about treatments. The vet explained that the cancer was a progressive kind, and that JOJO did not have long to live. He(vet) could give JOJO something to help with pain, and something to calm him. But technically he was dying. And here I thought me and JOJO would be together forever. Well, that is what I wanted. All my kids were told about JOJO and that we were going to put him to sleep. This was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I was hurting inside, and my children were devastated, also.My husband held me and told me in his broken voice that he was sorry, that he wished there was something to do, to help JOJO.

At that moment in my life, I realized how powerful the love was between me and JOJO. I felt like all my guts were ripping apart. I had made the toughest decision I had ever made. All because of that love. The love between man and animal, the love we all want. Unconditional and forgiving love. JOJO was a very special friend. When the last moments of his life were leaving him, he managed to be strong, and with his little head on my hand he took his last breath. I stroked his hair and kissed him goodbye. I hated watching him die, but I owed it to him, for all he did for me. That was the last time I felt his breathe, and warm fur. JOJO was gone, but he lives on now in my heart and memory.

Here's to you JOJO, and DAISY, friends till the end. JOJO was with me fourteen human years, and Daisy who now is gone, was with me 14 years. They showed me how strong that bond between animals and humans can be.