Imperial Pets-Joy

[Laura Mabee]

Dear griffh, Thank you so very much for posting such a poignant story.

Laura, my understanding is that Joy became blind because of the emotional trauma he experienced while
in the "House of Special Purpose", at the time his loved ones were being executed.  

Anyone who has experienced a close, and loving relationship with a companion animal knows the bond that exists...you are happy, they are happy, you are
down,  they know it...each time you leave, they think you are never coming back.  

Alexei left and didn't come back.....  there was a dreadful "atmosphere"  pervading the house, and in all probability he heard Ortino being killed. Added to this he was then taken to a stranger's home. A friend who works with traumatized dogs, said blindness could certainly be the result of such shocks.

Sunny

Thanks Sunny for clearinig this up for me.
I agree with you. I know I have a very great bond with my pets.

[Robert_Hall]

Believe it or not, I am a real softie for pets, even Romanov pets.
I had really hoped to find Joy's little grave [or at least the spot] in a lovely garden setting, someone's back or front garden.
I imagine if it had survived though, the owners would have been pestered to no end with all sorts of people. At least we know he lived his life out ina caring & comfortable home.
Best,
Robert

[griffh]

I am so grateful that everyone enjoyed Princess Bibesco's memory of Alexis and Joy.  Thank you griff.  What a wonderful amount of information is shared and it is just the sort of details that I find so fascinating.  I think it was Barbara Tuchman who said that she got her deepest insights by finding some intriguing detail.  The fact that Kaiser Wilhelm chose all of his wife's hats intuitively unlocked a whole aspect of Wilhelm's character for her.  There is something about all these intriguing details about Joy that unlocks, for me, the gentleness of Czar and his family.  

[Sunny]

Robert, there is satisfaction to be found in knowing that Joy was cared for, and loved.

Sunny

[MamieC]

I wonder if Joy has any traceable descendants.

[samcr]

 could any one tell me how did Joy get to britian? also
who looked after him when he got here?

[felix]

Sophie Buxhoeveden said the dog recognized  her in Siberia,Ran arround as if looking for the I.F. to be with her. I have five dogs and most are rescues, the Romanovs dogs break my heart. One of my dogs is a King Charles like Jemmy.

[Shvibzik]

Jemmy was a Pekinese, although most books and websites say she was a King Charles.
I learned that recently, too.

[felix]

According to Anna Vyrubova who said she gave them the dog it was a King Charles.

[Shvibzik]

I was on the thread "Samoyeds and the Romanovs", I was told she was a Pekinese, given to Tatiana.:-/  But, that may be wrong, many books say she was a King Charles--but they also say some other crazy things, too!  

[felix]

She was way to small to be pekinesse,Anna called her a "Charlie" which is the nickname for the breed. Its in her autobiography. I dont remember if she mentioned which of the childern she got it for.It has been said the the Dowager Empress had pekinesse dogs.

[felix]

Another dog thing, while I mentioned that he D.E. had pekinessse dogs. In pictures they always look like Japanese Chins. Which were a favorite of the British Royal family. So,maybe that is wrong.

[Shvibzik]

You may be right. I always thought she was a Charlie, because that is what I read.  I also read she was Tatiana's, but Anastasia favored her as her own, but quickly corrected anyone who asked if it was hers, or presumed it was.  Can anyone else shed any light on this subject?  :-/

[SanFranciscoCurt]

This is a rather moving thread...I was just reading Peter Kurth's "Tsar: the lost world of N&A" last evening and found a lovely photo of Alexei and Joy on the Children's Island.  I also found it here in the APTM...

http://www.alexanderpalace.org/palace/alekjoy.html

Such an idyllic photo.

[felix]

Peoples relationship with animals tells much about them