01/06/2026
This New Year will feel different.
We are stepping into it without Joey, our shop dog, assistant manager, and constant presence at the store. Joey passed at 14 years old. If you have been to the Birch Boys Shop or the Adirondack Store, you knew him. He greeted customers, supervised the floor, tested beds and furniture, wore his Carhartt jacket with pride, and made friends wherever he went. He was vocal, deeply opinionated, a committed snuggler, and as stubborn as most dachshunds are. When things were quiet, he could usually be found buried under a pile of blankets.
Joey was also family. At home he was King Joey. In his earlier days he came on many mushroom walks, happily tagging along and occasionally nibbling the edibles. He lived a long, full life, and his passing was peaceful and tied to old age, a history of Lyme disease and IVDD.
When Joey was diagnosed with mast cell tumors, we chose to share his story openly. We documented what we learned about diet, care decisions, and quality of life, because his experience mattered and because it helped others navigating similar paths. That story remains here:
https://birchboys.com/blogs/about-our-chaga/this-dog-cancer-diet-halted-our-dachshund-s-mast-cell-tumor
We are carrying a lot of gratitude into the New Year. Gratitude for 14 years, for the memories, and for a dog who made everything a little brighter just by being there.
Rest easy, Joey. A true legend.
