11/04/2025
I know as a mom youāre not supposed to play favorites, but Baxter was my first dog out of three. He was my baby, and heāll always hold a special place in my heart. He was such a big part of my life and was there through so many life changesā from marriage proposal to motherhood, deployments, career changes, and international moves.
Iām heartbroken to share that he passed away yesterday.
I donāt think Iāve ever loved a dog so much, and honestly, I donāt think I ever will. He would have turned 18 in December. We often joked that Baxter must have been drinking from the fountain of youth. On one of our walks, a stranger came up to say hi ā as they often did ā mistaking him for a puppy because of his happy trot, bouncing blonde ears, and small size. I proudly shared his age and, as usual, overshared about his life: āHe survived liver cancer! He had corneal surgery! Heās like 88 years old!ā
The stranger smiled and said, āDogs donāt live this long unless theyāre loved.ā
Itās the missing clicking of his paws around the house that will remind me most that heās gone. Iāll miss his expressive brown eyes, his funny antics, and the way he was always underfoot while I cooked, ever patient and always hopeful for a snack. Heād nap on my feet while I worked, puff out his chest and nudge your hand when he wanted affection, and curl up in your lap like a fuzzy blanket. Heād sleep right outside the kidsā bedroom door, as if standing guard while they napped. Wherever his family was ā thatās where he wanted to be.
He was a warm light that filled the quiet cracks in my day, and he did that for almost two decades. Baxter lived a long, beautiful life, charming his way into many hearts with his lovable ways the whole time.
Weāre all going to miss you, sweet boy. āØRest in paradise, my sweet Baxter. Youāll always be remembered with so much love.
