Musings About Mondo
Photo by Shlomo Freiman
Mondo 2005 - 2021
I am not a “dog person.” When I walk down the street, I smile at babies and delight when I see young children in their colorful outfits. Dogs? I barely notice them. And yet, married to a veterinarian, our house has been a home to both dogs and cats. My husband, Shlomo can’t imagine life without a canine companion. Me? I adored our late cat, Nile, but was mostly indifferent to our dogs. I’m realizing now that I was more attached than I ever imagined or consciously recognized when it comes to Mondo, the dog we had for sixteen years.
On Saturday, we said goodbye to Mondo, our Jack Russel Terrier (JRT). Mondo came into our lives in 2005, adopted from the animal shelter just up the road from Shlomo’s veterinary hospital. A pure-bred JRT, his previous owners gave him up when they discovered he was able to leap vertically and escape their three-foot fence. Shocking! Their 5-month-old pup was doing what comes naturally to JRTs, but apparently, they were unprepared for the exuberant, athletic, energetic dog who must have cost them a bundle. Other than changing the name he came with, we thought he was perfect. A small dog should have a big name, so we re-christened him Mondo, Italian slang for “super-sized.” Buff and compact, Mondo’s energy matched my husband’s. He accompanied Shlomo every day to work, and they trail-ran together. Mondo never tired. Not once. Take him on a 14-mile run and he’d come home ready for more.
Mondo chasing family friend, Jonah Crollard, Cashmere, WA. Photo by David Levitt
Our sons were high school and college students when Mondo came on the scene. They – and several of their friends – lived with us on and off during those years. Mondo showered our family members and friends with affection. The kids were often away for a few months or longer. When they’d arrive home after a long absence, Mondo would go wild with excitement. Springing like a pogo stick, up and down, up and down, he’d bark with joy, licking, and licking some more, then running around in circles. Pure exuberance. I’d never seen anything like it. This dog knew how to show affection like no one’s business.
He had his quirks. Sitting on the bathroom’s tiled floor, he’d eagerly await the moment when Shlomo and I exited the shower. The instant we stepped out, Mondo would sidle up and lick the water drops off our legs. Yuck! His water bowl was always full, but I guess nothing tasted better to him than the beads of water clinging to our just-cleaned bodies.
Mondo had a special talent. Entering his beloved crate, he would manipulate his towel or blanket and wrap himself up like a burrito, occasionally biting a hole in the fabric so he could stick out his face. And active as he was, he also loved naps, and could sit perfectly still for long periods of time. He’d place one front paw on top of the other, watching the action around him calmly, while Shlomo worked nearby.
Photo by Allon Freiman
When Mondo was four years old, another dog came into our life. Younger, less energetic, a Cairn Terrier. From day one, the new pup, named Poco, bossed Mondo around. Gentle soul that he was, Mondo never yipped or showed aggression to the intruder. He always quietly stood his ground, protecting his food bowl, never letting the new guy get under his skin. The two of them went to work with Shlomo every day, and staff members aligned themselves: were you Team Mondo? Or Team Poco? For a hospital retreat one year, they made t-shirts declaring their preference. I was always Team Mondo.
Photo by Shlomo Freiman
It’s been less than a week since Mondo passed into the next life. Shlomo, deeply grieving, is looking into getting a new Jack Russell Terrier puppy. It seems therapeutic for him to search for a new dog. Maybe a new puppy will bring us some joy…
Not far from our place in Cashmere, someone specializes in Parson Russell Terriers. They look a lot like JRTs, though slightly larger. We want a dog to keep us company, go for runs with Shlomo and hikes with me. A dog for Shlomo to love, and for me to chase off the couch. The Parson Russell Terrier’s temperament is described as “playful, exuberant, and overwhelmingly affectionate.”
That sounds like the right dog for us. Even for me, though I claim I’m not a dog person.