Joon

We picked up Joon at a Wawa in December 2022 when she rode up on the doggie bus from Alabama to Baltimore. We were so excited as the volunteers brought her off the van: watching her short (but long for a basset!) legs trot along in the cold parking lot was a sign of many good walks yet to come.

We knew very little about Joon’s life before she was ours, but we can certainly say her life after arriving was full of comfort. As she worked her way out of her shell and we learned about her many quirks, we were surprised at how quickly she learned to expect soft things in all aspects of her life. She demanded a place on the couch and would get on top of any blanket on the ground; even a moving blanket, towel post-shower, or canvas dropcloth during house projects would do. Her short legs were never an obstacle: she used her head to lift herself onto couches, countersurfed to steal freshly baked bread, and kept up (mostly!) with other dogs at the dog park. We often said she was the most active basset we had met – just until the moment she would decide to sit down mid-walk and bake in the sun (especially on our neighbor’s stoop).

Joon loved life in Baltimore (especially when her nose led her to snacks on the sidewalk), but life wasn’t without its challenges. Joon came to us with significant anxieties about the world, and helping her see the world as a safer place became a daily goal of ours. Watching her slowly make friends with our mailman or accept treats from firemen was so rewarding. We were so proud of her progress and only hoped we’d have more time with her to watch her bloom over the years.

Joon was our weird little girl in the best of ways: she was classically obstinate, a professional napper, and a voracious eater. She loved to chase rabbits, but her one brain cell and short legs prohibited her from ever actually catching one. She went crazy for belly rubs and happily grumbled when you cleaned her ears. She jumped up at your face at playtime and her play bows were as wide and low as they come.

Joon was ours for almost three years before she died of lymphoma. She never knew any discomfort, even at the end, and we will miss her dearly.