08/10/2026
Alto
This one hurt real bad y'all.
Alto came to me from Madison's OG hiking group - Doggy × Nature. Through a series of entanglements, the boys came to be PMH dogs. I will never forget that meet & greet, that perfect little boy's big bark, Franklin's immediate affection, & the relationships that have come to be since. Alto & Frankie, the brothers. Alto the wanderer & Frankie the velcro boy.
When a hiking dog is diagnosed with a terminal illness, we can't take hiking away from them. Often times, it is the highlight of their week, so we let them have that, right up until the very end, right up until their bodies tell us it's time.
It's a great privilege to give these dogs the kind of joy that hiking brings. It's an even bigger honor to take them hiking for their very last hike. Alto gave me a great gift on July 7th, & I'll carry that boy with me forever the way I carried him home that day.
Alto's last hike started like every other hike. He was jazzed to go! Pep in his step, hopped in the van without assistance & enjoyed his ride curled up next to Bruiser. Once on the trails we leashed up & off we went bee-bopping around, ears flopping, tongue joyously hangin,' smelling all the things, peeing on the stuff, yelling at the youngsters for getting too close - typical Alto antics. He started tugging, wanting to go into the weeds, a sure fire sign he's got legit business to tend to. I figured he had more to release & told him to enjoy his p**p (yes I totally said, "enjoy your p**p little buddy") & met the pack at the watering hole. Alto wandered back, gave me a look, & suddenly everything changed.
Our little old man was ready to go.
They say that dogs know. That their pack knows.
I'll never forget the energy on those trails that day. As Alto was telling me it was time, the whole pack laid around us, calmly, quietly.
They knew.
A heartbreaking goodbye. Also the sweetest goodbye any one of these dogs could give me. I only hope that my final days are like his, with one last hike before my loved ones give me one last squeeze & wish me a farewell.
Alto was surrounded by his parents & his brother as he drifted away peacefully ✨️
Love you forever little buddy 💛
