The True Story of Dunkin's
Guardian Angel, Della Jones
As told by Wyatt, who heard it firsthand from Mom and Dad.
Well folks, this is the true story of Della Sue Ann Marie Jones, one of Dunkin's Guardian Angels in book two and one of the most beloved Dachshunds our family has ever known.
Now before I tell you about Della, I need to tell you what happened first. You see, Mom and Dad were still living in Florida when Werner D. Jones crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
Folks, Mom was absolutely heartbroken. Werner had been her constant companion for years, and losing him left a hole in her heart that seemed impossible to fill. In fact, she told Dad, "I don't want any more dogs. I just can't go through losing another one." Now folks, that sounded perfectly reasonable at the time.
Unfortunately, there was one tiny little problem. Mom has suffered from a condition for many years. A serious condition. A condition that, as far as I know, modern medicine has never successfully cured.
You see she's addicted to Dachshunds. Dad knew it. The neighbors knew it. The veterinarian knew it. And deep down, Mom knew it too.
Years before Werner came along, Mom had often mentioned that someday she would love to have a little red long-haired female Dachshund. So after a few months had passed, Dad quietly started looking.
And when I say looking, folks, I mean really looking. He searched rescue websites. He searched adoption listings. He searched Dachshund rescue groups all over the country. Day after day. Week after week. Then one day he found her. A beautiful little one-year-old red long-haired female Dachshund. And folks... She was in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Apparently, she had been found wandering the streets with no collar, no tags, and no way to identify where she came from. Thankfully, someone rescued her and turned her over to Dachshund Rescue of North America. Dad contacted the rescue organization and discovered she was still available. So he immediately began the adoption process.
Now after a few days Dad realized he probably ought to tell Mom what he was doing. So he finally came clean and he told Mom, "I found a little one-year-old red long-haired female Dachshund."
Mom immediately replied, "I don't want another Dachshund after Werner." Dad nodded. Then casually added, "She's in Cleveland, Tennessee."
Now folks, I don't know exactly why that mattered... But according to Dad, Mom's resistance started weakening right about then. I think because it was Tennessee. You see, Mom's family is from Tennessee and that is where she got her first Dachshund. His name was Ginger. Her grandmother had him and Mom and her family were visiting her grandmother. Mom's grandmother gave Mr. Ginger to her and that folks was when she first became addicted to Dachshunds. Yes folks, it happens that fast.
And here's a funny little side note. At the time, nobody knew that years later both Reese the Peanut Butter Pup and I would also come from Cleveland, Tennessee. Folks, is it just me... Or does Cleveland seem to be producing an unusual number of future Jones family members? I'm beginning to suspect there's a secret Dachshund and Corgi distribution center hidden somewhere over there.
Anyway, the adoption process continued. The rescue organization required references and wanted to speak with Mom and Dad's veterinarian. After all, they wanted to make sure Della was going to a good home. Now folks, both references basically said the same thing. They told the rescue group, "If there's reincarnation, we want to come back as one of Dave and Linda's Dachshunds."
The veterinarian gave them an outstanding review as well. Apparently, Mom and Dad had developed a reputation for taking exceptionally good care of their dogs. And by "apparently," I mean absolutely.
A few weeks later, Mom and Dad received a call from Susan, the woman fostering Della in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Susan explained that her niece, who lived in New Port Richey, Florida, would be visiting and could bring Della south with her. Everything was finally coming together.
The day arrived. Susan's niece reached the store where Dad worked. And little Della was finally there. Dad immediately called Mom. "Linda, she's here."
Folks, what happened next lasted about ten seconds. Maybe less. Mom walked into the store. Della looked up. Mom looked down. Mom knelt. And little Della Sue Ann Marie Jones came running.
Dad said Della ran straight to Mom without the slightest hesitation. Mom scooped her up into her arms. Della covered Mom's face with kisses and Mom covered Della's face with kisses. And folks... That was it. Game over. Mission accomplished. Resistance completely gone. Mom was in love again.
From that day forward, Mom and Della became inseparable. Dad said they did everything together. And when he said everything... He meant everything.
If Mom was home... Della was beside her. If Mom sat down... Della was already there. If Mom went somewhere and dogs were allowed... Della went too. They became a team. A package deal. A matched set. Dad often joked that if someone couldn't find Della, they shouldn't look for Della. They should look for Mom. Because wherever one was, the other wasn't far away.
Years later, when Mom and Dad moved from Florida to Tennessee, Della rode with Mom. Jake and Clooney rode with Dad in his van. Folks, considering the number of Dachshunds involved, I'm pretty sure they needed their own convoy.
Mom and Dad shared more than twelve wonderful years with Della. Years filled with road trips, naps, adventures, cuddles, and enough Dachshund stubbornness to keep life interesting.
Eventually, Della crossed the Rainbow Bridge, but just like Werner, she never truly left. You see the love remains. The memories remain. And the paw prints she left on Mom and Dad's hearts remain too.
Today, Della is waiting with Jake, Clooney, Casey, Andrew, Timmy, Bella, Werner, Jeremy, Fritzy and Ginger at the Rainbow Bridge, healthy, happy, and young again. Waiting for the day they can all run into Mom and Dad's arms again.
And that's friends the true story of Della Sue Ann Marie Jones. A little red long-haired Dachshund who started out lost and alone on the streets of Cleveland, Tennessee... And ended up exactly where she belonged. With a family who loved her completely. And folks, if you ask me... I think she knew she was headed home the entire time.