About Jonathan’s Journal
Please note that Jonathan’s Journal is currently on a break! Thanks for reading our story.
How it began
When we first adopted Jonathan, I found myself going through trials and tribulations that (I now know) most new pet owners experience. It was hard not to feel like a “bad mom,” and when I tried to make sense of things, I found myself drawing and writing about that day’s hurdles. I’d leave little notes on our fridge for Jonathan’s dad: a lanky doodle version of our dog with checkmark boxes saying “Jonathan was a Good Boy today” or “Jonathan was a Bad Boy today.”
I started archiving these drawings into my digital sketchbook with some writing to go along with it so I could look back and remember the day. It wasn’t long until I realized that I could actually help others with these stories. I couldn’t be the only one going through all these struggles, right? Plus, Jonathan is a funny dog; at the very least, someone could get a laugh out of it.
And so, right after Christmas in 2019, I created the Jonathan’s Journal Instagram account while sitting in the passengers seat of an 8 hour drive back to New York City. Little did I know how quickly it would grow from there.
Jonathan’s Journal has created an outlet for my creativity and a way to advocate for adoptable for the misunderstood hound dog and rescue dogs everywhere. In nearly two years, we have raised thousands of dollars for rescues in the United States and Canada, and connected with fellow dog parents and advocates.
Jonathan
Jonathan is an American Foxhound/Treeing Walker Coonhound mix. He was adopted from Badass Animal Rescue in October 2019 after spending his young life in northern Florida. Jonathan and his littermates were abandoned in the woods during Hurricane Michael. They were lucky enough to survive and be found by good samaritans that alerted a local group called North Florida Rescue. In order to get a second chance at life, Jonathan and his siblings were brought up north so they could be adopted.
Jonathan is incredibly goofy with a huge personality. He loves everyone he has ever met, which is why he has done so well living in New York City. He prefers sniffing for leftovers over sniffing for critters. If he does encounter a critter, he would much rather be friends than make it prey. He has never met a snack he doesn’t like.
Are our dogs related? Check out Jonathan’s Embark DNA Profile!
Ike
Ike was a purebred Plott hound adopted at age 10. Originally from Tennessee, Ike was surrendered to Monroe County Animal Shelter and eventually transported to New York City by Social Tees Animal Rescue. He was a former hunting dog, stated as being “too old to keep up with the pack” when the hunter dropped him at the shelter.
In March 2022, after 7 months with us, Ike passed away from cancer. Our time together was cut too short, but we are so happy we were able to give this sweet old man the best last months of his life. He touched the lives of so many people he never even met, and his story will live on to advocate for adopting senior hounds.
Is your dog related to Ike? Check out his Embark DNA Profile!
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artwork + Merchandise
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