That’s my JoeJoe.

And today is Joe’s 10th birthday.  He’s 10 on the 10th of Feb.

Yep, the ol’ Joe is having a big day! 

Now, he’s not so little anymore, and he won’t know it’s his 10th birthday today, but I will.  I will do all kinds of things today to make sure he has a great day.  He will like that!

It’s hard to imagine that 10 years ago, when I was looking for a puppy-pal for Pinky (my first kelpie), that we’d have the journey together that we’ve had. 

At first, I very specifically wanted a silver kelpie male who would match Pinky, making an awesome pair.  Of course, I was hoping for puppies later, so I knew what I was looking for.  Even in Australia, there aren’t so many silver kelpies around, and it took awhile to find a young puppy who was available exactly when I was in a place to have a pup. You can imagine how happy I was to bring a baby Joe home exactly on Pinky’s third birthday.  Happy birthday, Pinky.  Here’s a new friend for you!

When JoeJoe was at his youngest, we lived in an isolated rocky valley between giant hills, miles away from neighbors, at the end of a road that barely was a road.  This was a desolate rural area, beautiful, but unpopulated. We had many acres of privacy, shared with guinea fowl, a peacock, and a herd of wild goats.

This was a land where there were more venomous snakes and wild dingos than people. Pinky and Joe could play outside in the sun all day, but we snuggled in, staying close together at night. 

Nighttime is when the dingos would come, sniffing around and howl for hours around the valley.  JoeJoe instinctively hunkered down silently between Pinky and I, and we all got through that scary patch of time safely.

When JoeJoe was five months old, we moved to what you may have heard me call “my island”.   We traded a large acreage in the mountains for an acre on the edge of ocean.  JoeJoe loved this change, and enjoyed running to have a quick swim whenever he so chose.   

It was on that Queensland island that Joe officially began his work with Discussing Dissociation.  He was already fully involved on my personal emotional support animal (ESA) team, but there was more in store for him!

 

Saddest Little Bear Story Pack

You might already know that Joe is one of the story-stars in the Saddest Little Bear Story Pack.

And no, he did not get that cupcake for dinner!  As you can see, Pinky had her heart intently set on exactly that, ha.

The little bear story is about a bear, but… that little bear meets others, and that was ol’ Joe’s cue to jump in.  Of course in the Little Bear story pack, his name is not Joe, but he is there!

Over the years, JoeJoe and that sad little bear have spent a whole lot of time together. 

Joe posed for a lot of pictures with those bears — way more pictures than I ever posted.  Some bears he liked more than others, obviously.

I hope you enjoy listening to the Saddest Little Bear story on JoeJoe’s birthday today.

What’s cute is that JoeJoe likes his own teddy bears, so he had his pile of bears, and I had mine, ha.  And, he knows the difference.  Of course!

 

Hearing his Friends over the Phone

Here’s another fun fact that happened with JoeJoe.  While we were on the island, JoeJoe could hear the voices on the other side of the computer, or when I put the phone on speaker.  It was during these years, as early as 2016, 2017, 2018, that Joe started making his friends. 

And if you are JoeJoe’s friend, and he recognizes your voice, you know exactly what I mean!  He is absolutely determined to say “HI!” to you. And he fully expects you to say hi to him as well, lol.

Also, at this time, when I was busy doing consultations over the phone, the infamous “Go Joe!” running game began. 

At our island house, I could enjoy talking on the phone while sitting outside on the verandah.  Joe would stare at me, asking to play, and quietly, I could give Joe a silent hand motion for “Go”. 

Joe took it from there.  He would, ever so happily, do his giant running circles around the yard.  He was able to run for lap after lap after lap of his playful “Go Joe!” exercise while I talked with you on the phone.  That was a perfect equation for both of us.

As far back as 2016, you may have heard JoeJoe barking “hi hi hi” at the beginning of a call.  Let me just say, even now, expect it!

Joe listens to the phone, he pays attention to the voices, and he genuinely recognizes the people he knows.  He can hear when people talk with him, and he’s been making friends with people from Discussing Dissociation for a very long time!   

And being a smart Aussie kelpie, once JoeJoe knows you, he forever knows you.

Referenced in Blog Articles on Discussing Dissociation

Of course, over the years, Joe has been part of the DD blog articles. He’s been referenced many times, but here are some articles more specifically about Joe. 

My Pals, Pinky and Joe Bob

Yep, We All Love Our Dogs

Flying 3 Dogs Over the Pacific in a big ol’ Airplane! Can you imagine that?!

JoeJoe Kept Sniffing a Tree — Guess What He Found?

 

 

JoeJoe Goes to Retreats

Starting at P4 DID Retreat: North Carolina 2023, JoeJoe joined us. 

Pinky got to go to Montana 2022, but after finding that abandoned little kitten, JoeJoe had earned his place at retreats.   (Okay, that might not make sense to anyone else, but that’s what I told him, ha.)  

And thank goodness he was there!   

If you haven’t heard the story yet, it was JoeJoe who helped find me when I was accidentally locked outside on a balcony the first night of set-up. Loudly calling for JoeJoe, creating extra “Go Joe’s!” from that locked-out place, making a noisy barking JoeJoe be a total utter annoyance to those inside the house was my only hope for getting found.  I had to get him looking for me!  “Go Joe! Go Joe! Go Joe!”  It worked!  Eventually, JoeJoe brought someone all the way upstairs to rescue me from that balcony.  Whew!  Thanks to JoeJoe, the NC ’23 Retreat could continue, ha.

Yep, Joe has a very different role at retreats than Pinky.   

Pinky is that quiet, gentle emotional support dog who sits with whoever is having sad feelings, offering her gentle comforting self.  She is a little pushy for a spot on the couch, but other than that, she’s willing to share easily.

Joe is the playful puppy who goes outside and allows for a little distraction from anxiety.  He gives companionship for those who need that outside break.  He joins anyone who needs to go outdoors for a little “walkies”.  Wanna not feel that pain?  He’s always up for a game.

JoeJoe is always looking for someone who is up for some fun, some laughs, some play times. 

At retreats, it’s important to bring in some light-hearted balance to the work that is happening, and JoeJoe does his best to help with that.

Joe takes care of those outside needs while Pinky does a little more on the inside.

JoeJoe loves to go for car rides, and he was beyond thrilled to get to go on our waterfall / river play day at NC ’23.  Since his years living by the ocean, any time he gets to play and swim in the water, he’s a happy happy boy.

In case you’re wondering, I have a big ol’ pile of more personal pictures of JoeJoe helping people at retreats.  He certainly is not ignored, lol. He has his friends, and yes, he specifically remembers the people he’s been listening to over those phone calls or zooms.  He knows who has been talking to him, and he absolutely knows those voices!!  However, for privacy sake, I’m not including those personal pictures, but yep… his influence is certainly strong.

 

SGI’s and JoeJoe

Well, if he’s gonna go to a retreat, he’s gonna love a Small Group Intensive as well!  Especially, if that venue had water he could play in. Joe loves the water — he’s going!

Making Lasting Friends is JoeJoe’s Favorite

It’s the retreat weeks where Joe gets to be with so many of his friends.  This was especially obvious at TEXAS 2024 

Joe loves the bigger groups, the busy schedules, the wider variety of people who will walk and play with him.  He gets to shine there because typically, someone, somewhere, wants to walk around or play (at least enough for him to get tired).  He’s just sure everyone wants to play “Go Joe!” with him!

Then, at the end of the day, as it gets too dark to play outside, he gets to go back to the room with House Mom and guard her for the rest of the night. 

So at retreats, he’s busy, and Joe-productive, all day long. Kelpies are working dogs, after all.  As much as his skills are very different from Pinky’s, he’s still working!

And if all the people are working in groups or doing art, in our P4 DID Retreat locations, there is usually enough outdoor space that Joe can explore and find a squirrel, or a opossum, or an armadillo, or a bird…. something, anything. Even a cow.  Joe is just fascinated by other animals, and can be entertained by them for a surprisingly long time.

Those retreat weeks are so very special to Joe.  He truly enjoys the people who come, and he doesn’t want any one he likes to leave.   In fact, to prove his point, he jumps in the car and tries his best to go with!

And you know what? When someone becomes a true friend to JoeJoe, they don’t want to leave him either.  He forms bonds with people, and he connects with them in the dearest of ways.

He proves that he knows people because the very next time he sees them, no matter how many months or years later, or how many DD events later, he reacts with a great jumping jubilance when he sees that special dearest someone that he knows.  He recognizes people when they come back.  He really does.  He knows you.

Yep, when JoeJoe sees you are his friend, you are his friend for life!

 

JoeJoe is very special to me

That little puppy from 10 years ago has certainly made a way right into my heart.  He’s always been a bit of a handful, that Joe.  But he’s also been a very dear companion.

Unbeknownst to me, someone at P4 ’24 took this picture.  I think it let’s you see how I feel about Joe.  He’s my buddy, for sure and for true.

Happy b’day, JoeJoe buddy.
aka Joe Bob.  Bobbsie Boy.  Joe Dirt.  Joe Dirty Dirt. Joey oh Joey.
For 10 years now, you’ve been one of my nearest and dearest.
You will always and forever be my very good friend Joe.
I’m so very very grateful you are part of my life.   🩵

~ ~ ~ ~

Do you have a JoeJoe in your life?

I don’t know if you have a puppy-friend, or a cat, or a bird, or a horse, or any kind of animal-pal who means the world to you, but I sure hope you do.   Emotional support animals take a lot of TLC, time, resources, and energy, that’s for sure, but they are absolutely worth it.

I hope you find one, or two, who becomes truly special to you.

Take gentle care, and of course, JoeJoe and I wish you the best in your healing journey.

Warmly,

Kathy

 

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