Remembering Brownie

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Sanctuary resident, Brownie. She passed peacefully in her sleep knowing kindness, compassion, love, and dignity.

You’ve all heard the saying, “Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen” – and Brownie spoke to us. The day before her passing, she let us know she was ready; she wanted her favorite people around her, and of course all the important people in her life came to be with her. She spent the day getting extra cuddles, ate some blueberry muffin and just wanted some extra loving. 

And as she snuggled in her favorite bed that night, it was the very last time we tucked her in, the Angels came for her. 

We rescued Brownie back in January of 2022. Our friends from Texas reached out to us seeking help for a very sick dog found wandering the streets. Seeing her condition, our hearts said yes and our Texas team immediately brought her to safety. She was emaciated, missing her bottom jaw, just one tooth in her mouth which had caused a horrible abscess under her eye, and tested high positive for heartworm. As it turned out she was chipped and when the owner was contacted about her dog, we were told “oh, I threw her out a long time ago”. Our hearts sank and we took Brownie under our wing. 

After 3 months of much needed urgent medical care in Texas, Brownie was finally healthy enough to come to our Sanctuary – and she began to live! Even on her SWATT flight to New Jersey, she was happy, she was excited, almost as if she knew that she was on her way to live her best life. 

Brownie quickly became part of a very exclusive group here at the Sanctuary, the “mean girls” Chihuahua group who were also known as our CFO’s flock; they would all flock to him the second he walked through the door like the rest of us no longer existed. They were his sidekicks. Their original leader was little Minnie and she and Brownie were best friends. They ruled the area of our Sanctuary known as the apartment where no non Chi was permitted. 

When Minnie passed away back in November of 2023, Brownie took over leadership of the group after a brief period of mourning. She ruled her world with a firm paw and no one would go against her; all the female Chihuahuas followed her lead. Just like when Minnie was around, they wouldn’t touch a morsel of food until she ate first, and if she decided she didn’t want a non-Chi around her, she would initiate the group of nasty girls like you wouldn’t believe – barking and snapping away until the non Chi dog would walk away. 

She was a tough little old lady, but she also had a sweet side to her that would just melt your heart. She knew how to enjoy life and she didn’t let anything stop her. She even took her heart medications with great pride – almost as if she was educating the others on the importance of taking your meds. 

When her most favorite person, our CFO, would enter Sancutaryy doors she would shriek with joy and couldn’t wait to be in his arms. Him visiting also meant snack time, and Brownie was a true foodie with her favorites being chicken nuggets and blueberry muffins. She enjoyed sunbathing, cuddling with her friends, and most of all, spending time in her sidekick’s arms. 

Brownie leaves behind many broken hearts and a gaping hole in our Sanctuary routine. The dynamics here are once again changing and we can only hope she is watching over her group and they are doing her proud. Her bed sits empty in the Chi apartment, almost as if she is still there and we can’t help but wonder if another Chi will take over that throne. 

We would like to extend our gratitude to our Texas team, Kathy and Megan, for moving quickly in bringing Brownie to safety, for loving, caring for her, nursing her back to health, and most importantly bringing her into our lives. You both are truly people with special hearts and we are glad to have you as part of the PGMP Team. 

We would also like to acknowledge Brownie’s generous sponsors, Erin and Jim, for assisting us with her care and helping give us the ability to provide her with everything she ever needed and then some. On behalf of beautiful Brownie, we thank you from the bottom of her little heart and ours. It is supporters like yourselves that are the driving force behind what we do.

All that we love deeply becomes a part of us, and Brownie was most certainly a big part of our hearts and souls here at Paws Give Me Purpose.

You will always live on in our hearts Brownie – you were taken way too soon. We were blessed to have known and been able to love you with our whole hearts!

Thank you to each and everyone of you for caring, for being a support to us during this time and for being a part of the best days of Brownie’s life!