02/04/2026
On days like this, we’re gently reminded how grateful we are to be trusted with such a tender moment. Helping families guide their beloved dogs through a peaceful passing is an honor we never take lightly.
Below is a snippet in Cracker and his families lives…
“We are eternally grateful to Dr. Crystal McConnell of Lighthouse Euthanasia Services for helping us send our very beloved Golden Retriever, Cracker peacefully and lovingly over the Rainbow Bridge. It takes a very special person to assist with this travel and Dr. Crystal is this person. She sees people and animals on their very worst day, greeting them compassionately, continuing to kindly assure them during the whole process. We had the privilege of having Cracker in our lives for 14 way too short years. Our Cracker was the sweetest most lovable little clown you’d ever meet. He became fast friends with everyone who crossed his path. He was very intelligent and loved outwitting us for extra treats whenever possible. He loved playing ball, he would race to retrieve it when Michael would throw long distance ones for him and would get obsessed with getting his ball back when I would accidentally throw it up on the garage roof. He loved playing in the water and getting baths, but didn’t like being out in the rain. He had a funny way of calling to us, sounding like a chuff or huff sound at the beginning of a bark when he was ready for bed. He would entertain us constantly with his “Happy Dance”, that’s what we called him laying on his back and wriggling back and forth inside or outside, where he’d get very dirty. His first happy dance took place just a couple of weeks after we brought him home. It looked like he had a big smile on his face as he would dance away. Even though he was born and raised in a snowless climate ( he always loved it cooler) he discovered immediately how much he loved snow after we moved farther north. He added snow angles to his happy dance not wanting to come back in from the cold. Cracker loved spending time with Michael outside never leaving his side whether wresting or playing ball or just sitting quietly together. He had a stubborn side too, occasionally if asked to do something he wasn’t ready to do, he would look at you as if to say, I don’t really want to, but okay and begrudgingly comply. That was all part of his charm, it’s hard to get mad at a big old teddy bear with such a sweet face. He would always let me know what he was feeling and was sensitive to our feelings. Cracker was always more like a little boy than a Golden Retriever, he had such a unique way about him. We decided to adopt another Golden puppy so he could pick up some of Cracker’s traits. We affectionately nicknamed Cracker Grump-pa even though he had the patience of a saint with pup Charlie. They were very close, Charlie would even run to his Grump-pa when he’d get into trouble. Cracker would just look up at me after Charlie laid down beside him as if to ask, is there a problem here? Cracker also loved his cat sisters, one cat named Sweetie Todd was 6 months older than him and they would take naps together in the afternoon after we brought him home. Cracker shared his birthday with our daughter, albeit 22 years apart, she bought him his favorite toy, a blue bone that he happily carried around with him during the day, we buried it with him, so he could carry it over the rainbow bridge. I know Charlie misses him also I gave him another favorite chew bone of Crackers the day after, Charlie got all excited smelling the bone, starting to whine, carrying it off with him, it’s now his favorite toy. Our other cat Bella found the bone a few days later, smelled it and started rubbing her chin on it almost affectionately. We will all love and miss our Cracker forever, but cherish all our wonderful memories we had with him.”
-Michael & Tina Finn
Rest easy 🐾❤️
