Oreo loved people. Mostly as a main course, but occasionally as a starter. He had a special affinity for fast food–the one FedEx guy we had could easily place in the top 10 in the Boston Marathon if just practiced a little by dropping off a package a day with Oreo.

His family frequently joked that the Reverend Jack Russell, the creator of Jack Russell Terriers, had to become a Reverend to try to atone for the hell he let loose upon the world.

Oreo was a purebred Jack Russell Terrier, a high energy, loving little dog who was extremely protective of his family.

Oreo was the first of four boys, Oscar arrived a week later and brothers Buddy and Scout, better known affectionately as Poodlehead, arrived four months later in mid-December. Oreo was the youngest, roughly four months old when he arrived.

As a growing pup, Oreo’s body had to grow into his giant head. He eventually mastered the stairs but at first his little puppy legs often left him just a step or two up whimpering for a helping hand.

Oreo graduated from Rutgers University with a master degree in Supply Chain Analytics along with his service human and Chinese tutor, Wan. While at undergrad, his professor, Oscar, taught him the basics: you demand, they supply.

Oreo was also multilingual, keeping his native bark reserved for fellow furballs and the occasional jogger, he understood English and in his later years picked up some Chinese.

Oreo was one of the smartest dogs to roam on four paws. He knew when it was cold enough to need his jacket and could, if left accessible, put it on himself.

Several winters, the house attracted mice. His family would lay live capture traps, behind the access pans, in cabinets, and under furniture. Oreo would wake up in the morning and would check his traps, poking his giant snoz into each location until he was confident the trap was empty. Should a trap catch a mouse, Oreo would scoop the trap up and prance around, showing off his impeccable hunting skills, while giving the mouse a look few creatures ever remembered: his giant canine teeth, from the inside.

Oreo mastered mealtime manners, choosing to sit calmly and adorably at the side or whomever was most likely to share…or whomever was most likely to make a mess. In his youth, Oreo was known to eat meatballs whole and clear a plate so fast that he’d accidentally eat broccoli or other vegetables. As he aged, his palate refined, preferring only fresh cooked meals, Teppanyaki style right in front of him. His snack of choice was chicken and waffle flavored treats, although he rarely discrimination when it came to dessert. He also learned and respected people’s preferences, like who gets licked and whose bed he could jump on (eventually everyone’s).

Oreo was the most opinionated dog. Smarter than most humans, he had strong thoughts on most topics and didn’t often get told no…and how could anyone tell something that cute “no”?

He sat wherever he wanted, which was most commonly right on the section of the newspaper you were reading. Oreo loved being on the kitchen table where he could sample the dishes or just make the rounds getting attention from everyone.

Oreo hated the cold. From about October to April he wanted his jacket to go outside. A well placed electric blanket would keep him by your side for hours. On cold nights he was known to crawl deep under the covers, and to not come out even when he warned up or started panting.

He had an evolving pecking order: one pecking order for who was most likely to feed him, another for who would allow him to sleep the latest into the afternoon and in his older years who would take him for a walk. Little Oreo wouldn’t just tell you he wanted to go for a walk, but who he wanted to take him. No one ever found out what happened if you didn’t take him, but we could guess.

He loved car rides, baconators, cuddling with his family, chasing animals, scaring off delivery people, rawhide, breaking squeaky toys, and spending the day in his gazebo.

Oreo leaves behind his family, who is completely lost without him: Kim, Sharon and their four boys, Michael, Kevin, Eamonn and Sean and their respective SOs, Jess, Wan, Kim and Katie.

We could write volumes on what a wonderful, curious, playful, smart and loyal dog he was. Oreo will never be forgotten.