02/25/2025
Abbie finished her life on February 17th. She was my first dog as an adult, and she was with me for nearly my entire adult life so far. She wasn’t a family dog like the ones from my childhood; she was mine, and from the moment I brought her home, we had an instant, unbreakable bond. The love I felt for her was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. She was my constant. No matter what was happening in my life, I always looked for her when I needed comfort, and she always came to me when she needed the same.
She had the sweetest little quirks. When she was relaxed, sometimes her lip would get stuck, and it would look like she was smiling. We miss when she would wedge herself between me and Dan for snuggles. One of our favorite things was taking naps together. She’d fall asleep in my arms, content and at peace. She loved our adventures, hiking with us and Lacey, always paying attention, always following along like the good girl she was. She had this way of letting us know exactly how excited she was. She would whimper with anticipation when she knew we were close to her favorite places. When they heard the sound of their car harnesses, she and Lacey would break into a symphony of cries and whimpers, overflowing with joy.
As she got older, was diagnosed with a heart condition, and lost her vision among other health concerns, things changed. She no longer felt comfortable on the bed, so I bought several dog beds for her all over the house. She wanted less physical attention but needed so much more care. My life slowed down, shifted, and became entirely focused on her. Whatever she needed, she got—every medication, every meal, every extra effort. I never hesitated. Her comfort and happiness were my priority, and even though it was hard, I wouldn’t have done it any other way.
Now that she’s gone, I feel so lost. My days were built around her, and now I don’t know what to do with the space she left behind. But what I do know is that she was perfect. My indescribably perfect little dog. She made my life whole, and I will carry her love with me always.
