Name/Age: Stella - 3 y/o & JoJo - 2 y/o
Family Members: Kristi & Betsey - we are their Mommies!
How long have Stella & JoJo been in the family? Stella since January 2019 and JoJo since July 2019
Professions: Kristi - firefighter & Betsy - GLOCK
Location: Smyrna, GA
Nicknames: Stella- Tropi, Chumpi, PLo, Theo
JoJo- Joey, Jo, Donuts, Brobie, Brobik
Stella
JoJo
5 words/phrase that best describe Stella & JoJo?
Stella:
Laid Back
Loving
Smoochie Head
Cuddle Bug
Stubborn
JoJo:
Nut Job
Sweet
Reserved
Protector
Crazy Baby
What makes Stella & JoJo unique? The way Stella loves is amazing. She is a cuddle bug and will do anything to get your attention for pets and her specialty, HEAD BUTT SUGARS.
Jo is a protector through and through. Always on high alert, nothing gets past her. She’s so funny on how she will alert and bark yet come up to be pet. Like she has to let her mommy’s know someone is near but she also has to get attention too.
All smiles from Stella.
JoJo sprinting through yard with her rope!
Rescue Stories: Stella was rescued when her owner died of a heart attack and the family was going to take her to a high kill shelter in North Georgia. Betsy and I at the time were in no position for a dog so we decided to foster her for the night until we could find her a home. Needless to say, we foster failed.
Stella snug in her forever home!
Joey showed up on our ring camera at 2am jumping on our front door. We didn’t notice the footage until the next day. She was obviously dumped in our neighborhood and very confused. Our neighbors also spotted her that night floating in their pool and had to go get her out! The next day, we found her still roaming the neighborhood and decided to try and catch her and have her scanned for a chip. She was very scared and confused with no home and no chip. After her 7 day stray hold, we decided that she was meant to be ours and here we are a year later.
JoJo safe & sound with her forever family
What is your favorite pastime as a family? Having the dogs help in our engagement on the beach! We got them little bandanas that say “our humans are getting married” and “she said yes!” It was only appropriate that they were there, they complete our little family!
What is life like since you rescued Stella & JoJo? Amazing! Since being rescued, both have become emotional support animals. Life as a firefighter can be taxing and stressful. PTSD is a leading cause of suicide in firefighters after what we witness daily at our jobs. Having the unconditional love and support of a dog is beyond anything a human is capable of. After a bad day, it’s so easy to come home and feel the stress melt away with the girls! For the dogs, its lots of love, vacations, walks, treats, snuggly blankets, toys, and cuddling. They’ll never not feel loved ever again.
Photographers Note: We had a beautiful fall day in Georgia for our shoot. So watching these two race around in their backyard was just a riot and not a bad way to spend some time on a pretty day. Although as I was warned sitting on the ground was pretty risky business but the girls did a great job of avoiding me during all the wrestling and sprinting. The funniest part was that Stella would just drop mid- stride and do a barrel role as an evasive maneuver. She would quickly jump up and then switch directions getting the upper hand on her sister. At first I thought she was being knocked to the ground but no…it was all intentional & pretty genius. After spending a just a short time with these two, I can definitely see how they would be a huge support to their Mom’s and make the stress fade away.
Sisters!