Dear Friends
Our family is having a very difficult week.   This morning when we got up we found our beautiful dove, Cinnamon dead in the bottom of her cage. Cinnamon had a beautiful song to share as she "cooed" for all of us.  We know she was aging, she no longer cooed for us and she didn't sit on her perch, instead she sat on the floor of her cage.

Cinnamon was adopted from a bird rescue on September 18, 2005.  We have no idea how old she was at that time, but if you are a math major you'll be able to figure she lived with us over 11 years.  Which seems like a long life for a bird.

Mom always decorated the top of her cage with Christmas lights or red for valentine, green for March and so on depending on the season.  It was so precious the first time mom did this and then lite the lights.  Cinnamon looked up and around and almost fell off her perch looking at the lights.  Mom cracked up and will always have that sweet memory of Cinnamon and her Christmas Lights.  We do think Cinnamon  enjoyed the lights cause when mom would change them she'd look up to check them out.

We will miss her beautiful song, at least we do have a recording of it.  Sorry I can't upload a recording to this page.  Cinnamon, you were a sweet bird, even if Holli and Addi scared you a few time pawing at  you through the openings in the cage.  Mom was freaked out the time she forgot to close your cage's door  and looked around to see Addi in the cage. Luckily mom jumped in to rescue you from the crazy little cat.

Cinnamon, you and Jaybo can run around Heaven and play together now, just remember to meet all of us as we cross that Rainbow Bridge!


RIP Cinnamon

Love
Leonard

Our Dear Dog Jaybo    

Katie and Jaybo December 2005

Jaybo Born September 2005

                    died January 17, 2017

Jaybo was born in Ohio.  She joined the Zambanini Family November 4, 2005.   After the Zambanini Family lost their dogs earlier that year, Jaybo’s dad, Rob wasn’t ready to get another dog.  However, hurricane Katrina happened and there were so many dogs who needed homes that Rob agreed that Katie and Luann could look for a Katrina dog needing a home.  After searching Luann happened to come across a litter of puppies being fostered in the Allentown area through Peaceable Kingdom.  It was love at first site for Luann and Katie and with Rob’s blessing they adopted this puppy they would name Jaybo.  You may wonder where Jaybo got her name.  During Rob’s days at college working on his PhD, he had an awesome college professor “John B. Ochs” who really helped him during really rough time.  Finally after Rob graduated in 2000 with his PhD, I told Dr Ochs that I was too old have another child, but we would name our next dog after him.  Once we got this puppy in November of 2005, we figured we’d name her Ochs (pronounced “Oaks”).  But it just didn’t sound right.  I was thinking a lot about it and remembered that a lot of folks called Dr Ochs by his initial “JBO”, so I started saying JBO, JBO, “Jaybo” came to mind and our puppy became known as “Jaybo”. 

Jaybo was your normal naughty puppy.  She stole pens and chewed them.  She was so excited when we were outside and didn’t take her along, she tore through every patio door screen we had. (We have 3 patio doors) also she tore through the basement screen door.  Jaybo ripped curtain (to look out the window).  All those puppy things.

Rob didn’t get close to Jaybo, he really didn’t want a dog, he just agreed we could get one.  Well, in July of 2007, Rob tore his Achilles tendon and Jaybo became his best friend.  Rob, who slept on the pull out sofa downstairs, for months, had a buddy with him. The buddy named Jaybo.  Jaybo was with Rob all the time and they bonded. 

Jaybo and her girl Katie

After Rob was back in the swing of walking, he would walk Jaybo a mile each night. They would go rain or shine or even snowstorm.  For years they walked.  The past few months at times Jaybo would walk part way and then stop like she was saying “That’s enough dad, I’m tired”.  Rob would turn around and come home.  Even the week before she died she walked the normal mile walk with him.  But that would be the last time she’d go that far.  The last few days she would just look at him, her heart and head wanted to go, but the body was refusing.  Jaybo had liver cancer.  We don’t know how long she had it, she just seemed sad a few months and then for a few weeks she didn’t finish her food.  Finally after test, it was discovered and very soon after that her quality of life wasn’t there.  We would not let her suffer and on Tuesday, January 17, 2017 we sent her across the rainbow bridge.  As Rob, Katie and I laid on the floor in the vet’s office we all told her how much we loved her and petted her as she fell to that eternal sleep.  She will be missed very much by so many.  

 Even the folks in the vets office loved Jaybo and all hugged her “goodbye”.    

Tulip Time, Spring 2008

And so we go on to Jaybo’s obituary……..

Jaybo was born sometime in September 2005 in Ohio.  She came to live with the Zambanini Family November 4, 2005. 

Jaybo is survived by her beloved human family, Luann, Rob, Katie and Cody.  Her beloved animal family of her dog sister, Penny, her dog brother Leonard.   Her cat sisters, Frankie, and Holli.   Along with her feathers sisters Sandy and Cinnamon, and her feathered brother Atilla.  Jaybo also leaves her cat nephew, Perkins and her cat niece Addie. 

Jaybo by the pool that she enjoyed!

Jay, Leonard & Penny

 She was proceeded in death by her cat sisters Antoinette "Tony" and Samantha “Sam.”

Jaybo will be greatly missed by her human family, the animal family and many family members and friends. 

We love you Jaybo, our sweet old gal!

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole” … Roger Caras

I saw mom typing something and after reading it I thought I have to share this on my blog.  You see Mom, Dad and Katie had to put Jaybo to sleep today.  She was very ill and wouldn't eat. Here liver cancer was spreading.  But mom, dad and Katie are heartbroken. I thought mom wrote something really beautiful and I had to share it. 

Dear Jesus,

My family and I are giving back the very very special gift that you gave us 11 years ago. We are so very thankful you put her in our lives and you left us keep her for those wonderful 11 years. We would have liked to keep her for 80 years, but we know, a dog’s life doesn’t work that way. So, having Jaybo, our big beautiful doggie, for 11 years has been very special to us. We thank you so much for sharing this special dog of yours with us.

She has made a very big paw print on the hearts of each of the members of our family. We know she has put her paw print on the hearts of some of our family and friends through the years.

We ask that you make her transition the easiest as possible. Can you have a big ball with a pool full of kids to greet her? She’ll just love that. Reminder her often how much we loved her and how special she was to us, and that she’ll always live in our hearts! Thank you! 

It seems strange without our big Jaybo around here.  

 

 

I'm having a very rough week!
Frankie (that cat) is moving in and trying to take over by snuggling up to my friend, Penny.  Penny isn't really smart so she doesn't really get it. 

Then I'm trying to get some work done and I have that cat (Frankie) looking over my shoulder all the time!   It's so hard to get confidential work done with that cat breathing down my throat!







Then the very worst thing in the world,our dearest friend Jaybo was diagnosed with Liver Caner earlier this week.  She has been losing weight and as you can see, she looks very sad.  The entire family seems to be devastated because of the diagnoses! She doesn't have alot of time left, she isn't eating much.  We are all very very worried about her!  We all love her very much. She is an awesome family dog, and showed me the ropes when I joined this family several years ago. I consider her a perfect roll model for a great family pet! .