Penelope "Penny" Johansen

We gather here today to celebrate the life of Penelope Johansen, or Penny as she was affectionately known, a true queen of the canine world. Born on August 18, 2007, Penny ascended to the big dog park in the sky on August 23, 2023. She leaves behind her loving pet parents, and fur-sister, Abigail, having already sent a paw-written postcard to her fur-brother, Gator, who passed before her.

Penny's story began in a hoarding situation, which, let's be honest, was less "Extreme Couponing" and more "101 Dalmatians without the charming British accents." From these humble beginnings, Penny emerged like a canine Cinderella, trading in her rags for a collar and a forever home.

Penny was no ordinary dog, she was a sunbathing beauty with the heart of a saint. She would lay out in the sun, working on her tan, and probably pondering the mysteries of the universe, like why squirrels are so darn fast, and who on earth decided to put the peanut butter on such a high shelf?

Penny wasn't just a sunbathing diva, though. She took on the role of caregiver and seeing-eye dog for her older brother, Gator. She guided him around, probably telling him, "No, Gator, that's a tree... again." She was a true sister, always there to lend a paw, or a shoulder to lean on when the vet visits got too much.

When Gator passed on, one could imagine Penny saying, "Well, I did such a good job with Gator, let's see who else I can help." And along came Abigail, a new puppy who was as clueless as a cat in a dog show. Little did Penny know, she was about to become a caregiver and seeing-eye dog once again. It was like a canine version of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," but instead of pants, it was a sense of responsibility and care passed down from one generation to the next.

Penny was friendly, gentle, and loving, the canine equivalent of that sweet old lady who always has a candy in her purse for you. She was the kind of dog who would share her bone with you, even if you were a cat, and let's face it, we all know how cats can be.

So, as we remember Penny, let's not dwell on the sadness. Instead, let's celebrate a life well-lived, full of love, care, and a whole lot of sunbathing. Penny may have crossed the rainbow bridge, but she's probably over there right now, guiding some other dog away from a tree, and reminding us all of the power of love, resilience, and the occasional belly rub.

In the words of the great philosopher Snoopy, "Keep looking up... that's the secret of life." So here's to you, Penny. May you keep looking up, keep sunbathing, and keep showing those squirrels who's boss. You will be missed, but your spirit will live on, wagging its tail in our hearts.