Emma
2005-2014

The typical little sister and by far the most mischievous of our pups, Emma was found wandering the streets of Cleveland as a wee one all alone in the summer of 2005.  Rescued by a couple of Cleveland Police officers, she was taken to a local no-kill shelter, checked out and when she received a clean bill of health, she was put up for adoption. Fate led us to her in a round about way and she came to live with us when she was (at best guess) around 8 weeks old. 

With boundless energy, an ornery streak and a personality as big as the whole outdoors, Emma keeps us all on our toes. Her favorite activity is wrestling with Molly but she’s developed an interesting game of self-wrestling or solo-wrestling that occupies and entertains her when Molly isn’t in the mood.  A bit of a freeze-baby, she loves to lay by the fireplace when it’s going and she never turns down a chance to cuddle.  Known for her air-kisses (kisses given in high quantity, rapid speed and at an approximate 3” distance from the recipients face), Emma never waits for an invite to prove her lap dog status and she hasn’t found a lap yet that she won’t plop in if the opportunity presents itself. 

While others in the family have dubbed her a B-rat (by John’s personally derived definition, B-rat = a brat on steroids), she is, without a doubt, a mommy’s girl and neither she – or Melissa will deny that fact. 

Emma’s favorite Cleveland Browns player: Phil Taylor from Baylor
Reason: Because just like Emma, he’s low on grace but high on impact… and that’s what makes them both so darned lovable!

Jake
1994 - 2010

Having joined us in 1994, Jake – aka Jacob Barkley Ward – is the elder statesman on the K9 branch of our family tree. Half Boxer and half Black Lab/something else, Jake is a charming, affectionate fellow with a gentle disposition and a notorious sweet tooth.  

Offered in the local newspaper as ‘free to a good home’ after his pure-bred Boxer mom had a one-night-stand with a neighborhood lab, Jake came to live with us just a couple weeks after we bought our first home. He’s been a cornerstone in our family ever since.

He enjoys playing and snuggling with us but he’s equally content to nap or just watch the world go by from his comfy pillow or his favorite spot on the couch in the Browns basement.  

He’s had a soft spot for Bree, his ‘big sister’ and best pal from the moment she picked him to come home with her when she was just four years old. While his senior years find him spending less time romping and frolicking, he still conducts his occasional security rounds throughout the house to ensure everything is safe and sound under his watchful guard.  With his Sean-Connery-of-the-dog-world good looks and his heart of gold, he always wins the heart of anyone he meets.

Jake’s favorite Cleveland Browns player: Hanford Dixon
Reason: Simply put… he IS the original “Old Dawg”