A Josie’s Life

Josie Rosario Ramos-Allen was born May 15, 2009 at the Animal Shelter in Riverside, California. She was originally named “July” and rescued by TLC With Pups, a beagle rescue, with her puppy siblings, April and August.

In July of 2009, Josie met her future human mama, Angelica Ramos, at a home in Laguna Woods with other foster dogs. At the time, Angelica was a Northern California girl living the dream as a law student in Orange County. The foster family, in grand fashion, released the puppies into the backyard to give Angelica and the litter some time to get to know each other. As the puppies swarmed Angelica, the “runt” pushed through the other puppies and extended her paw. “I choose you” her big almond eyes said, and Angelica understood.

The rescue warned Angelica that this particular puppy was a nervous one and tried to talk her into picking another puppy. Torn, Angelica called a trusted friend to ask for advice. “Fight for her,” he said. She did. And she never stopped.

Josie and her mama were inseparable. She frequently joined Angelica at Whittier Law School while she studied in the Law Journal for Child and Family Advocacy office. She consistently returned from obedience school and doggy day care with glowing report cards. She also received and accepted numerous offers to model for various doggie publications and had the opportunity to meet Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer.

Post-canine education, Josie joined her mama in the field, becoming a trusted campaign dog. Not only did she improve team morale, she was an avid canvasser and fundraiser for myriad candidates, including but not limited to Melissa Fox, Sharon Quirk-Silva, Cyril Yu, and (later, back in Santa Clara County) Susan Ellenberg. In addition to her campaign resume, Josie was an avid Doggie Democrat and activist for progressive causes. She attended numerous rallies up and down the State of California and frequently joined her paw-rents at California Democratic Party, Young Democrat, and County Central Committee conventions and meetings.

While on the Sharon Quirk-Silva for Assembly campaign in 2012, Josie was the only dog allowed to join the welcoming committee for Governor Jerry Brown’s dog Sutter during a statewide tour. By all accounts, Josie and Sutter hit it off.

Later in 2012, Josie met another special person, Peter Allen, a boy from San José. One weekend in December, Peter took a trip to Southern California to visit college friends and drove to Newport Beach to have dinner with Josie’s mom. Taking a liking to Peter during the first of their many walks alone for potty time and sniffs, Josie schemed to hide his prized San Francisco Giants cap to ensure that they would have to meet again. Her scheme was successful. Five years later, Angelica and Peter were married, and Josie had an adopted pup-paw.

Josie was fortunate to have loving grandparents. In her early years, she was able to stay with her grandpa Jun in Pomona and chase the racoons, rabbits, and squirrels where he was temporarily working until finally retiring back to Fremont. When her paw-rents traveled and couldn't take her along — meaning they had to fly somewhere — she stayed at Camp Fremont with Grandma Yvonne and Grandpa Jun, where she had the opportunity to hike Mission Peak and frolic in the community park chasing gophers and the aforementioned squirrels. Josie also had an opportunity to live with her Grandma Janice, and brothers Buddy (dog), and Judah (cat) in relative peace and harmony. Josie especially enjoyed her late night walks with Buddy and her paw-rents after their long days at the Policy Factory.

In her later years, Josie continued to be a sounding board and trusted adviser for her pup-paw and mama as they all settled into a new home across the street from the “community field” at Lincoln High School. She enjoyed sunbathing in the backyard, going on walks twice a day, spending quality time with her family, and of course, treats. She would also send an annual update to her friends and family with dramatic flair and a pup-tastic perspective.

Josie left a lasting legacy with her family, one that will be revealed in due time. Through the good times and the bad, Josie made sure to provide unconditional love and unyielding loyalty to her mama and pup-paw. Until the very end, they had a bond that will never be broken.

On Valentine’s Day in 2022, the doctors informed Angelica and Peter that Josie had inoperable cancer and may not last through the night. She lived for three more wonderful weeks, eating anything she wanted, including steaks and In-N-Out burgers, visiting the San José Municipal Rose Garden for the first time (even though that isn’t technically allowed), and enjoying an indoor campsite her paw-rents erected in their living room.

One night, Josie heard her mama crying, climbed into her lap, put her head on her knee and told her that it was going to be okay. When the vet came to her house to help her transition, Josie was ecstatically wagging her tail. She knew that the time had come and that her paw-rents needed to let her go.

On March 9, 2022 at 1:43pm (PDT), in her backyard where she loved to sunbathe, surrounded by all her favorite toys — including the blue rubber ball she found at Lincoln High School on her 11th birthday and brought all the way home without dropping — Josie lifted her face to the sun, happy to be pain free, and with her paw-rents by her side, quietly transitioned across the Rainbow Bridge.

Josie had many nicknames: Kanga-rabbit-gator (because she was so bouncy and chomped on her toys), wiggle butt (because of how wiggly she was), Josie-kins (Peter’s favorite), Josie-bear, the goodest girl, Josie Luv, and many, many more. She was loved by many people, including but not limited to everyone she ever met. In the days after she left, hundreds of mourners sent condolences to Angelica and Peter, offering unsolicited stories about the impact Josie had on their lives. And this only made them miss her more.

Josie’s memory will always be a blessing and live in the hearts of those who loved her fur-ever.

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