Josie Grace

In Loving Memory of Josie Grace
August 20, 2024

I don’t know who rescued who. Josie found me at a time when my life had been destroyed into a million pieces with no shred of what had been. No resemblance to my past. Not even my name.

When we met, she was in a critical health condition, and emotionally her spirit crushed to where she didn’t understand play or bark. After 8 good years, she had been discarded. I felt like we understood each other.

It was March 2018 and my niece was checking out the adoptable at a pet store. Josie wasn’t getting any attention from anyone. She was hairless, shaved down, and had a funny walk due to her back knees. I couldn't help but be drawn to her. She looked like she needed love and a good snuggle.

The next day I drove out to meet her again. They couldn’t find her for quite a while. She had been curled up on a stack of stuff under the front counter in the corner hiding. They didn’t know what the last time she ate was. They said she was having a hard time. She had been there since December. This was March.

She didn’t want anything to do with me when they brought her in. Her eyes were tear-stained and her spirit was crushed. She didn’t play. She didn’t bark. She only watched everything from a state of shock, looking for where she could curl up and sleep. I can only imagine the horrible life she had previously.

I can’t explain what happened next, but I knew I had to take her. I knew she needed a good home and if she stayed there she wouldn’t make it. I felt the only choice was to bring her home and snuggle. My initial thought was to get her healthy and then help her find a loving quiet home.

Both of us were apprehensive, but in need of each other, so it began.

I told her if she liked me and was good to travel then this might work out.

Josie Grace was a pro cuddler and the best traveler, so.....

Thousands of miles, 2 states, countless flights, road trips, zooms, in-person meetings, presentations, family gatherings, shopping trips, taco dates, and multiple moves later…she became my love.

The couch was her throne. The entire bed belonged to her, specifically the pillow next to me.

She was my good morning and my goodnight.

She was the constant in my life when nothing else made sense.

I could just sit in the quiet with her and just think, or work, but most importantly pray.

We all loved Josie.

We all know she knew she wasn’t a dog or a Pomeranian, she was a Josie. Only one of her kind.

I've always said I rescued her and yet, I think she rescued me. I believe in reality, we rescued each other.

Oliver and I are beyond words with the pain over the loss of our girlfriend.

Love you schnoozie, my little lover, mama's sweet girl, the boss, our girlfriend, and forever, my Josie Grace.