Josie

Josie came to us in December of 2007 through the Florida Boxer Rescue Owner Surrender Program. We adopted her as a “guard dog.” That’s a laugh, because anyone that knew her knew she would kiss you to death, but that’s about it. She was named “Jersey” by her first family, but we changed it to Josie. We called her Josers, Josie Belle, Josie Bear, Princess Josephine, Diva. She warmed our hearts and will furever have a place there. We let her go on Monday after a short hard fight with cancer. For all of you that knew and loved her, here are a few memorable moments that are dear to us. Please add your favorite story below in the comments section.

The first night at our house in Orlando, Josie tried to get on Goofy’s bed (i.e. throne) and he wouldn’t have it and he nipped at her. She skidded all the way across the living room into the food bowls that went clanging everywhere.

Our little diva got VIP treatment. She was the only dog that we let (or wanted to) sleep in our room at night. She slept under my side of the bed for a long time. She didn’t move until it was time to go out in the morning. And even then, we usually had to drag her out from under the bed. It feels empty now with her gone, but I know her spirit is with us.

In Orlando, one night she was chasing a squirrel and jumping around the backyard and somehow wound up in our neighbor’s yard over the 4 foot chain link fence. We shone the flashlight on her and she was just sitting there on the other side of the fence. It was as if she was saying, “Umm, how did I get here? Can you come and get me?”

In Orlando, she and Goofy chased a possum and thought they killed it. Nope it was just playing possum.

We tried for a long time to teach her how to lie down and shake. She only knew sit and come, and that’s all she would ever learn. Lying down and shake were just above her doggie IQ. We actually tested her doggie IQ. She may have not been the smartest dog, but she was the sweetest. (Goofy actually did really good with the IQ test.)

Last winter during the ice storm she went out to the bathroom on the hill and slid all the way down it instead. It was so cute I wish I caught it on video.

Josie was jumping around so excited to see Jim one day that she jumped up and her head collided with his nose. He still has a little bump from the incident. So from then on when people came over we always warned them not to lean over her.

Other memories. How our neighbors Eric and Sascha in Orlando had to stand facing the wall at our house so that she wouldn’t jump in their faces. How our neighbor Will had to stand on her leash to restrain her. How I had to take her into the vet or doggie daycare separate of Goofy because she was like a bucking bronco trying to love everyone and she was so excited. She was the most excited dog ever! How Jim counted her kisses in 60 seconds—it was 100 kisses! She just wanted to be with you no matter what. She was always happy.

Thank you Josie for a wonderful three and a half years.