November 12, 2019

I’m sorry to inform you that “Rudy Dog Blasco” the senior cruelty free mascot for Joe Blasco Cosmetics has passed away comfortably today in my arms. Rudy was 16 years of age.

I and Katrina Waristo purchased Rudy in Turku Finland 16 years ago. We originally only wanted him for a “cruelty-free” photo shoot, but I fell in love with him and brought him home with me to the USA. We were quietly told that he was born and then “smuggled” into Finland from St. Petersburg Russia! He has quite a history. The then Ambassador of the United States to Finland invited me to the Embassy to do her makeup and to have dinner. One week later she surprised me with the gift of a special international “doggie” passport which enabled Rudy to fly around the world with me without any problems of quarantine.

He traveled the world and loved airports and especially loved looking out of the airplane window constantly. Rudy was also trained as a medical alert service dog which enabled him to go anywhere.

He loved to eat, and outside of guarding me 24 hours a day, eating was his main passion.

He was a real character with a very unique personality unlike any other dogs I have had in the past.

Rudy obviously brought me great joy and worked with me constantly by my side during all of the most troubling times …

I now hope I can be as strong without him by my side as I was when he was there…

He will be missed, always in my heart and never forgotten.

Joe Blasco