Meet Jojo

My husband and I are HANC members with a rescued dog, Parker, who we have had in our family for several years now.  My son, George and his new wife Laura, live in Austin, Texas.  My son is a musician with a successful business in a town that (fortunately) loves live music. 

A couple of years ago “the kids” (aka George and Laura) expressed an interest in getting a dog of their own.  They had met our Parker and were looking for a large dog that would give Laura some companionship in the evenings when George was at his performances.  The kids wanted a dog that would also be a deterrent to anyone with bad intent.

Through HANC we were told about a 2 ½ year old boy named Jojo recently brought into rescue in the Omaha area.  Brent and Deb Ellis had graciously fostered Jojo.  When Jojo came to the Ellises, his stomach was bare of fur with raw and bleeding hot spot areas all over his body.  Brent treated Jojo with good food and homeopathic remedies for skin problems and Jojo slowly began to heal.

Arrangements were made for Jojo’s adoption and Jojo made the driving trip—Brent had the first leg from Omaha to Mound City, Missouri, where my husband and I met Jojo and took him south to Oklahoma City.  There George and Laura met us and Jojo for the first time.  The kids left with their new boy for the drive back to Austin.  It was a long (15 hour) journey for Jojo with new people and three car changes.

Jojo was still suffering from hot spots and dry, thin fur.  At first George was overwhelmed dealing with what seemed never ending skin flare-ups.  None-the-less, George and Laura had fallen under Jojo’s spell.  Determined to help their new family member, the kids consulted several vets.  Emails to HANC members provided the kids with advice from experienced Newf owners, as well.  Jojo had the luxury of having someone with him almost around the clock.  With George’s mostly evening gigs and Laura’s day-time job, he was with his new family almost all the time.  He began to “turn around.”  Jojo accompanied the kids on daily errands and he loves to go for car rides.  Some of George’s performances are at out-door venues and Jojo would attend, soaking up love and admiration from the concert goers.  George was having to compete with his dog for the audience, at times!  Over the course of a few months, Jojo’s fur began to grow in glossy and luxurious.  I believe it was a combination of many things, but the most important was Jojo’s new feeling of belonging and being loved.  He was “home” and it showed. 

Because Newfs are like potato chips—you can’t have just one—Jojo has a new little brother—Louie.  A whole new chapter in Jojo’s life has just started and it is one that he seems to relish.