Leonard's Tales

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.