Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/mandy-moore-mourns-dog-joni/

Mandy Moore is mourning the sudden death of her almost 13-year-old rescue dog Joni.

The This is Us actress took to Instagram to share the devastating news and went on to post a long, heartfelt tribute to her beloved dog.

She starts by informing her millions of fans how she lost her “Joni girl.”

“Last night, very unexpectedly, we lost our Joni girl. Yes, she was almost 13. Yes, she had pretty major surgery a week ago to remove a mass on her liver but she was recovering really well. Until last night. I knew something was amiss when she, lifelong food-obsessed, didn’t finish her dinner and couldn’t get comfortable in bed (despite being on pain meds). My mama intuition told me to bring her in and I’m glad we did.”

It was love at first sight for Moore and Joni. She wrote, “I saw her puppy mug online way back in early 2008 and drove down to San Diego to meet her at @thebarkinglotrescue and was instantly smitten. I’ll never forget the drive home, telling her that it was just us against the world now.”

The two were inseparable and she goes on to share some of Joni’s favorite things. “To know her, was to love her. She never met a stranger. She was waaaaay more human (or muppet) than dog. She loved ANYTHING she could eat, even if sometimes it was gross (cat poop 🤢).”

She was fond of not only her mother but loved her canine brother Jackson and her dad, Taylor Goldsmith. She also enjoyed napping in the sun. She wasn’t as crazy about her feline siblings but tolerated them. Moore went on to say, “She loved to give very stinky kisses. And I have no doubt she knew what an absolutely indispensable part of our lives and cherished soul she was… right until the end.”

Anyone who has ever lost a dog or pet knows her pain and understands when she says, “My heart is utterly shattered. She was my first love and best friend. Through every twist and turn of life of this past decade and change, she was right there. There’s a deep chasm of emptiness that will never be filled but I am so grateful for her sweet nature and the endless connection, compassion, responsibility, patience and devotion that the love of a pet can bring into your orbit.”

Goldsmith, Moore’s husband of five years, knew Joni was “the boss and a total mama’s girl.” The couple is expecting their first child and wish Joni was still around to meet her human brother. However, Moore teases that “maybe she wasn’t ready to share 😉. Or be a suction cup right by my side every night.”

She ends the tribute to Joni with, “I will love and miss you forever, my Joni. Thank you for beyond a lifetime of love.”

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog