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he was renowned for his snappy attire and sporty fashion sense, and will be remembered as a friendly presence to all who crossed his path as he took his daily, downtown constitutional.
And although there was no obituary in the newspaper announcing that Jed the miniature dachshund died on Jan. 3, he’ll be missed by many in and around Taunton’s downtown district.
“someone here once asked me why I had boxes of dog biscuits under my desk. everyone enjoyed it when he came in,” said Addie Osso, an office employee of Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant on Weir Street.
“I feel bad,” Osso added, after learning that Jed had been put down by his owner, Jonathan “J.J” Brewer. “I know how much he loved that dog.”
J.J. Brewer said he had no choice but to bring his companion of more than a dozen years into the Dighton-Rehoboth Animal Hospital to be put to sleep. The dog could no longer eat and had started to moan in pain.
“I had an appointment scheduled, but I told them you need to see him now,” Brewer, 46, said.
Despite being a miniature dachshund, which means his body was shorter than the archetypal “hot dog” version, Jed belonged to a breed known for developing spine-related maladies.
Brewer says a dachshund’s life expectancy averages around 13 years. Jed, he said, was three weeks shy of his thirteenth birthday when he expired.
“The last two years he slowed down,” said Brewer, who noted that the last time Jed took a walk on his leash was in the summer.
Known for his sports jerseys, sombreros and ever-so-cool shades, the short-legged, good-natured and quiet hound — whose natural coat was black, save for some rust-colored patches on his legs, snout and rear end — had become a distinctive part of the downtown landscape.
during the warmer months Brewer himself added to that distinctiveness by providing a marked contrast to his diminutive buddy. The longtime Taunton State Hospital mental health worker, who enjoys working out with weights, would often wear tank tops revealing his chiseled physique.
“it was hysterical, a riot. I mean, a big burly guy like that with that little dog,” said Cindy Silvia, another TMLP worker who looked forward to greeting the duo whenever Brewer came in to pay his utility bill. Charity events
Besides being a natural ham who never resisted donning Red Sox, Patriots or 49ers body shirts, as well as the occasional Harley Davidson leather cap, Jed helped raise money for worthy causes.
Brewer says the two of them had participated in an annual charity walk for stray animals held at New Bedford’s Buttonwood Park. In 2005, Jed and Brewer collected the first-place trophy for best dog-human look-alike.
One year the two collected a medal for taking part in Taunton’s annual run for Ricky scholarship — an event held in memory of former Taunton State Hospital worker Richard Silvia, who in the 1990s drowned while saving the life of a boy who had fallen through the ice.
Brewer also takes pride in a certificate he collected from the non-profit CO-OP, formerly Cooperative Productions, recognizing Jed as “an official pet therapist” for visiting clients. “One patient used to get his camera every time Jed wore his Halloween or Santa outfit,” Brewer said.
Brewer says he’d also occasionally bring the dog with him to work at the state hospital so patients could pet Jed.
“Hopefully it elevated their spirits,” he said.
Brewer said his dog was always a good sport about dressing up, but would scale back a bit when the heat became oppressive. he realized Jed actually seemed to enjoy being the center of attention when 10 years ago the two of them visited Cape Cod canal when the Tall Ships came through.
“it looked like he (Jed) stopped and looked at them (spectators). People were snapping photos while we were walking,” Brewer said.
over the years, as Jed became something of a local celebrity — thanks, in part, to the occasional photo in the Taunton Daily Gazette — Brewer said he accumulated a drawer-full of clothes and hats, some donated by friends and fans.
One friend living in Mexico sent two doggie-scale sombreros. Jed’s faux sunglasses, Brewer points out, came from pet stores and were designed to not adversely affect a canine’s eyes.
“I was always buying something for him like he was my kid,” Brewer said. Close calls
Brewer, a Taunton native, said he grew up in a household with dogs and other pets, but had not owned his own dog until he spotted the three-month old Jed-to-be while visiting a Raynham pet shop with a friend.
“I held him and looked at him and thought about him the next three days. I couldn’t get him out of my mind.”
Brewer said he ended up calling the store and asked them to hold the puppy, which had been among a group of dachshunds for sale.
Jed was an acronym, he said, derived from his own name, as well as from both his daughter’s name and that of a woman who was his girlfriend at the time.
although dachshunds are known for being somewhat difficult to housebreak and train, Brewer said Jed adjusted quickly to his Pleasant Street apartment.
The only problem was when Jed realized he could use his paws to scale and jump over a gate designed to keep young children confined to a specific area.
Brewer then introduced a pet cage, and Jed learned to immediately go inside before Brewer left for work.
And as is the case with many small dogs, Jed liked company when it came time for his master to go to sleep, which meant that he usually slept on the bed.
Brewer said Jed was obedient and only barked when it was time to go out for a walk or be let out in the yard — which for the last few years happened more often after the two of them moved to a multi-family house owned by the Brewer family on Myrtle place.
Jed also had to learn to accept Brewer’s pet parrot Mojo, a fair-sized bird that is not confined to a cage.
“Jed came after him a couple of times and I told him ‘no,’” said Brewer, who adds that his dog finally got the message not to mess with Mojo after the parrot gave him a good peck.
There were just two serious scares during Jed’s life. Brewer recounts how a neighbor’s pit bull, which previously had been friendly, one day attacked and grabbed his dog by the neck; luckily Jed survived unscathed.
another time a library patron didn’t see Jed as he trailed behind his master and drove over the dog.
“all I could see was him on his back and his feet in the air. Luckily the tires didn’t run him over,” Brewer said. “he had a scraped belly, but half an hour later he wanted to go back out for a walk.” One of a kind
Brewer says one of the most heartfelt gestures expressing sympathy about his pet’s passing came in the form of a hand-drawn letter from some neighborhood kids who used to stop by and play with Jed.
“sorry for your loss,” it reads. “Jed will be missed but he’ll always be in our hearts.” An arrow points to a smile drawn onto the image of a dachshund.
Brewer said he plans eventually to keep Jed’s ashes in his house and erect a modest memorial in the backyard. as for a replacement, he said he’ll get another small dog — this time form the city’s pet shelter — but not until at least the spring.
“all dogs are special, but nothing can replace this dog. he had an impact on people because of his personality,” Brewer said, adding that “I believe he was a special dog.”
Contact Charles Winokoor at
