'Heartbroken' dog owner whose pet recovered after illness confirms TV return

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Fans are smitten with Life Below Zero’s Johnny Rolfe and his dog Java. Johnny confirms he will be back to the original show following the cancellation of Life Below Zero: Next Generation.

October this year has taken us back to the icy tundras of Alaska, and those bold enough to inhabit it, in Life Below Zero. The show features a collection of cast members discussing their daily struggles and the techniques they employ to survive in this frigid sub-zero-degree environment. One of the cast members who’s stolen the hearts of the nation is Johnny Rolfe, who along with his dog Java, employs ancestral techniques for survival.

Hunting is ‘a way of life’ for Johnny Rolfe

Johnny Rolfe first joined Life Below Zero: Next Generation in 2017 as a refreshing addition to the shows line-up. He maintains the perfect balance of real-world honesty combined with a genuine knowledge of bushcraft and ancestral hunting techniques.

Johnny and Java, his ever loyal companion, live in a small wooden cabin in the Alaskan country side. Officially ‘off-grid’ the cabin lacks virtually all modern comfort amenities.

This isn’t just for the cameras, Johnny fervently stands by the way of life even when the cameras aren’t rolling. On Facebook he refers to his way of life as “tradition” and keeping him “connected to the cycle of life and death and to the land and nature.”

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Johnny serves all of his, and Java’s, needs through ethical methods of hunting, using the entire animal for a multitude of purposes in their home. On Instagram he described hunting as “a way of life” holding “purpose and beyond.”

When discussing one of his regular hunts, Caribou, he said: “The caribou provide me with life, I owe it to them.”

‘I’m here for the Java pics’

After a social media hiatus, since November 2023, Johnny is back giving fans an insight into his fascinating life. What fans mostly want to see, however, is those big, beautiful, brown eyes belonging to Java.

Described by Johnny: “The best companion in the mountains and wilderness is Java girl. Hands down. She seems to like observing them glaciers just as much as me.”

This loyal lass appears in all his most recent Instagram posts, absolutely loving her off-the-grid life as much as her master. Fans are absolutely smitten.

The comments section is flooded with love and well wishes for his furry friend: “Every photo of Java makes me smile. I was so heartbroken when she was sick a few years ago. I cried when she recovered. Such a loyal companion. Stay safe.”

“I’m here for the Java pics,” commented another fan.

Fans are excited to see Java, I mean Johnny, in the upcoming National Geographic series. Johnny confirms in the comments section his transfer from Next Gen. to the original Life Before Zero line-up.

“Next gen. is done, but they switched me over to the old school LBZ so you can catch me and Java there.” Johnny responded to a commenter, confirming the cancellation of season 8, but reassuring fans he will be back.