06/26/2026
“Uh-oh! I think Jazzy is trick or treating in our candy bucket.” My mom said as we both noticed Jazzy’s head fully submerged in the Halloween chocolates, which are toxic to dogs.
“Uh-oh! I think Jazzy is getting into the beehive!” I said to H after looking out the kitchen window and seeing Jazzy sniffing the hive entrance as bees with stingers tried to make their way back in.
“Uh-oh! I think Jazzy just got into the cactus!” H said looking out into the yard as Jazzy’s muzzle sniffed the prickly pears and grazed the tiny cactus needles.
For a 14-year-old senior dog, Jazzy sure got into a lot of places she shouldn’t have. Luckily, she never got hurt.
We adopted Jazzy last year after seeing the sweetest picture of a senior sleeping on her foster mom’s deck and dreaming of home. As soon as I saw her perky ears, a squished left foot, and a greying face, I knew the home she was dreaming of was ours.
On shaky legs, Jazzy walked into our hearts and instantly became part of the family.
Jazzy was bossy, sassy, sweet, and everything in between. She pierced our ear drums with her requests until we fulfilled them, looking adorable as ever while she made her wishes known.
“Put me up on the couch”
“Now put me down.”
“Give me my breakfast.”
“Let me outside.”
“I’m done outside. Let me inside NOW!”
Our Jazzter was an excellent coach during my morning workouts.
“You doin’ push-ups without any weight? What are you thinking?” She'd look at me and ask. Then she’d climb on my back and press all of her 60 pounds on me. Other times, she’d lick my hands and face in encouragement.
Tulips and peonies? She despised them and ate them on a regular basis to ensure they didn’t bloom. Logs and branches? She loved to make woodchips and made better progress than my mechanical woodchipper. Cucumbers? Her favorite garden snack. She didn’t ask for permission. She picked them right off the vine and galloped off into the sunset on her shaky legs to enjoy them in secret.
She always joined us at the dinner table, shoving her head into our laps to make sure we didn’t forget that she was there and available to recycle any scraps. After dinner, she was tender and sweet and joined me on the couch to read a book and wind down for the night.
She was a wonderful sister to Brownie. The two silently bonded and if Jazzy was out on a walk and Brownie heard her bark, he would break through any fence or barrier to run to her rescue.
Throughout the day, they sat on the couch together and practiced their opera scales.
“Waooooooooo!” Came Jazzy’s high-pitched cry.
“Wa-wa-woooooo!” Came Brownie’s alto.
While she loved Brownie, Jazzy had one canine enemy—Blackie, the neighborhood dog who walked by every few days with her owner.
“Get out of here you! Brownie’s MY brother. This is My family! You can't come and say hello to them. Wooof!” Was Jazzy’s message to Blackie. Despite Jazzy’s advanced age and unsteady legs, she charged at Blackie through the fence, often falling down in the process and struggling to get up. It was adorable to watch her try to defend us.
But like with all senior dogs we’ve had, Jazzy also started to slow down as the year went on. During the past few weeks, she had trouble sleeping and requested to be let outside at odd hours. We often found ourselves in the yard at 4 in the morning with a flashlight, trying to find Jazzy, hoping the local bear wasn’t wandering by.
Shortly after the wandering started, Jazzy stopped eating the breakfast she was always so excited about (kibbles mixed with a fresh scrambled egg). Then she stopped eating dinner as well. She stopped drinking. She started walking in circles. Her back legs suddenly went limp and she could no longer walk, though she still dragged her body around the yard using her front legs. Then her front legs stopped working and she could only remain in one spot.
On Saturday, when Blackie walked by, Jazzy didn’t bark. That’s when we knew it was time.
Jazzy passed peacefully on Monday morning with both H and me right beside her. We had promised her we’d be there until the end and we kept our word. Jazzy had the most caring vet and tech at Allegheny Spay and Neuter Clinic/Animal Welfare Council of the Alleghenies, who, alongside us, comforted her and spoke sweetly to her as she crossed the rainbow bridge.
Jazzy is survived by her adopted brothers Copernicus (15) and Brownie (9) and her foster sister Ellie (8.5).
Adjustment to life without Jazzy has been difficult. Brownie sits outside on the stairs late into the night waiting for her to come home. He has torn up our doors and molding trying to get outside to look for her. For the rest of us, the house is too quiet without her requests and demands. The couch doesn’t feel right without her on it.
Thank you to Voorhees Animal Orphanage who took Jazzy into their care, connected her with her incredible foster mom, and supported us through an out-of-state adoption process.
Thank you to her incredible foster mom who helped nurse Jazzy back to health after she entered the shelter system and who continued to provide us with support through the entire year.
We miss our Jazzy Jazz but are grateful for the wonderful year we had with her. She was loved and spoiled and spoiled and loved, just like she deserved, until the very end.
