10/02/2026
Mya lived most of her life in Duke's shadow and she was content to let him.
She was an easy dog. Selective with her affection but deeply loyal once she gave it. An athlete who could clear any fence, and only tried once, after a cat, before quickly giving up the chase. She listened, she settled easily and she was just a good dog.
When we lost Duke, we worried about her. They had been together her whole life and we weren't sure how she'd navigate things without him. We were surprised at how easily she transitioned. She started sleeping in, eating at a leisurely pace, and napping more during the day. We watched her settle in ways we hadn't seen before and realized how content she was when she wasn't alert with what the other animals were doing.
We decided to let her enjoy her golden years as the only animal in the house. It was the right call and she thrived. We enjoyed almost 6 more years with her. She didn't start slowing down until after 5.
The golden years of our dogs are a privilege. The slower walks, more cuddles, and months of sleeping on the couch with her when she got restless at night. The anticipatory grief of those final months is its own kind of love — exhausting and tender and worth every moment.
We lost Mya on September 20th, just over 1 year ago today.
We couldn't go back to bed that night so stayed on the couch and moved downstairs for a few months.
She was 15 and the last of our crew. Losing her meant losing the last piece of that whole chapter of our lives. The grief has been significant.
We aren't sure when we will get another dog. It's been over 20 years without a happy tail greeting us at the door.
Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is sit with your loss, honour what you had, and trust that you'll know when you're ready. For now, we spend our days with dogs that walk through our doors and love the joy and healing they bring.
Senior dogs give you so much if you let them. Slow down with them. Sleep on the couch. Stay up too late.
She taught me that the greatest gift you can give your dog is the freedom to be exactly who they are. And it's what I try to give every dog that comes through our doors.
Rest easy, sweet girl. 💜
