SPORT
Beagle
Birthday: Sometime in mid 1980s
Death: Age Unknown 1990s
Sport showed up on our doorstep in Laurel, Maryland, shortly after we bought our first home in 1990. We searched for missing dog reports but couldn’t find anyone looking for him. His age was unknown, although he already seemed older when he came to us.
Sport was quite the escape artist! He kept digging his way out of our backyard, which may have been how he became lost in the first place. Every time he escaped and ended up at the pound, it cost us $200 to get him back. After the second time, we had learned our lesson! We kept fortifying the fence until Sport finally couldn’t find a way out.
Several years after he became ours, Sport began having seizures and eventually had to be put to sleep.
Sport was our first dog together. He was a sweet, very laid-back dog who unexpectedly showed up at our door and became part of our family. Looking back, we had no idea that he would be the first of so many rescued dogs who would become part of our lives.
SAUCY
Lab Mix
Birthday: Sometime in early 1990s
Death: Age 10 – Early 2000s
Saucy was a very, very loving dog—easygoing and always wanting to please. We found her through a farmer in Friendsville, Maryland, who was looking for homes for some puppies. Our kids were still very young (I don’t think Jesse was even walking yet), and we decided to rescue one of the farm puppies.
Saucy was with us for 10 years and became such an important part of our family. She was the only dog we ever had who learned to say “I WUV U” when she wanted a treat. She would also say “MAMA.”
Sadly, Saucy developed an aggressive cancer in her mouth. She underwent surgery to remove it, but the cancer grew back almost immediately. It was an incredibly difficult time because we had bonded so deeply with her. When she was hurting after the surgery and the cancer had returned, Saucy would sit on the couch and mournfully say “MAMA.” I would sit beside her and comfort her as best I could.
Eventually, I knew I couldn’t allow her to continue suffering, and we had to make the heartbreaking decision to let her go.
Saucy gave us 10 wonderful years of love, and we still miss her to this day. I’ll never forget hearing “I WUV U” and “MAMA.”
BUTTER
Cocker Spaniel
Birthday: Unknown
Death: Age 6 – Early 2000s
We adopted Butter from a local pound in Maryland. We never knew exactly how old she was, and sadly, she was only with us for a few short years.
Talk about a dog who knew how to suck up to you! Butter would roll right onto her back and wait for someone to rub her belly. She was an incredibly sweet and loving dog.
We didn’t know much about her medical history, but when she was estimated to be around six years old, she began having trouble going to the bathroom. We took her in for X-rays and learned that she had serious problems with several discs in her back. Surgery was an option, but we were told she had only about a 50/50 chance of recovery and could face significant restrictions and a poor quality of life afterward.
Rather than put Butter through surgery with such an uncertain outcome and the possibility that her quality of life would suffer, we made one of the hardest decisions a family with a beloved dog ever has to make. We let her go rather than allow her to suffer.
We really miss Butter and will always remember our sweet girl rolling onto her back and waiting for those belly rubs.
This was the only close-up picture of Butter that I could find on my phone. The rest of our pictures of her are old printed photos that are packed away.
FRITTER
Beagle
Birthday: 04/06/2001
Death: 02/08/2012
Fritter—funny Fritter! We found Fritter as a young puppy at our local pound. He was so cute that we scooped him right up. For some odd reason, my dad always called him Norman.
Fritter was always ready to snoop out any available food source. He would even rely on the other dogs to swipe something off the counter and bring him a treat!
One year, one of the dogs decided to swipe a Christmas gift off the counter and give the package to Fritter. Fritter tore it open, discovered chocolate inside, and—being the generous dog he was—shared it with the other dogs.
We were supposed to drive to Vermont that evening, but instead we made an unexpected stop at the vet with five dogs in tow to have everyone checked out. They were treated, given fluids under the skin, and eventually sent on their way.
Then came our eight-hour trip to Vermont in the motorhome…which we spent cleaning up doggy vomit from the chocolate.
I will never forget Fritter’s kindness and sharing.
Sadly, during Fritter’s 11th year of life, he developed an aggressive skin cancer that was spreading across his stomach. His health continued to decline, and eventually he could no longer go outside to potty on his own and had to be carried. Our poor guy was miserable, and we knew it was time to let him go.
Funny Fritter gave us so many memories, but that Christmas trip to Vermont is one we will never forget!
CIDER
Dachshund/Shepherd Mix
Birthday: 04/06/2001
Death: 11/16/2015
Cider was my special girl and my shadow. We adopted her from Animal Rescue, Inc. at the Maryland/PA line just a day or so after bringing Fritter home. Someone had given her up because they no longer wanted her, and we had gone to the rescue looking for another puppy for Fritter to grow up with. That’s when we found Cider.
Cider clung to me from the beginning and followed me wherever I went. She was my favorite and truly my special girl. She loved going camping and taking walks with the other dogs, and she and Fritter formed a special bond since they were the same age and grew up together.
For some reason, my dad always called her “Ginger,” and Cider would come to him every single time he called her that!
As Cider got older, she began having seizures and running into things, and her weight started dropping quickly. We eventually learned that she had cancer.
I HATE CANCER. It has taken far too many of my dogs.
When Cider’s health declined, we made the heartbreaking decision to let her go so that she would no longer suffer. She was 14½ years old.
It’s still hard to imagine not having her in my life. I miss her so very much and still cry when I think about her.
Sweet, sweet Cider. My special girl.
PIPPIN
Jack Russell Terrier Mix
Birthday: 04/06/2005
Death: 05/05/2021
Pippin was another one of my special girls—my baby. We rescued her from a local hairdresser who had too many dogs and was trying to find a home for her. She was less than a year old and nothing but skin and bones when she came to us.
Pippin LOVED hiking and camping with us. On our very first camping trip, she got a little too excited when she saw an off-leash dog approaching us near a trail parking area. Before we could get her leash clipped on, Pippin bolted out of the car and chased the dog out of the parking lot. Thankfully, Pippin came right back to us. The other dog was missing for two weeks but was eventually found and safely reunited with its owner.
Pippin also seemed to have an incredible ability to know when something wasn’t right with me. Over the years, she would repeatedly sniff and focus on areas where tumors were later found, and in my experience, she was never wrong when I eventually needed surgery. When I was hurting, she would lie on me and stay close, providing warmth and comfort until I felt better. She seemed to know when her mama needed her.
Pippin was with us for 16 years. One night, she suffered a violent seizure that threw her from the bed. We rushed her to the emergency veterinarian, where they found a mass on her pancreas that appeared to be causing serious problems. We were told that she didn’t have much time and that the mass was at risk of rupturing. We had to make the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye.
Even now, I well up with tears when I think about Pippin and all the others we’ve loved and lost. She was incredibly loving, very smart, and so much more than just a dog to me.
Sweet Pippin. My special girl. My baby.
DOG DOG
Unknown Mix
Birthday: 04/06/2006
Death: 03/03/2023
Dog Dog (formerly known as Jessie) was an Eastern Shore girl. We got her from my 11th-grade history teacher. He was getting married at 80 years old and was no longer able to keep her.
Dog Dog had originally shown up on his doorstep after being hit by a car. He took her in and cared for her for several years. When he was preparing to get married, he saw a picture of our big yard and wanted Dog Dog to have a place where she could run and enjoy herself rather than being kept inside all the time.
We picked her up shortly before his wedding, and our son Jesse fell in love with her. He decided her new name would be Dog Dog—and Dog Dog she became!
She was so easy to love. At first, she wasn’t interested in mingling with our existing pack and preferred to keep to herself. But after several months, she began to fit right in. She enjoyed playing with the other dogs and was just as happy simply being with us.
Dog Dog remained very active as she grew older, but eventually she reached the point where she could no longer walk or go potty on her own. We rushed her to the veterinarian and were told there was nothing more they could do for her. At 17 years old, her back and hips had finally given out and she was in pain. They also found a mass on her pancreas.
We had to make the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye.
Dog Dog came into our lives later in hers, but she became every bit a part of our family. She was loved all the way to 17, and we’ll always remember our sweet Eastern Shore girl with the funny name Jesse gave her.
MUFFIN
Pug
Birthday: 04/06/2006
Death: 06/28/2023
Muffin was the only dog we ever purchased from a reputable local pug breeder. We got her as a puppy once she was weaned and old enough to leave her mama.
Muffin was tough stuff and absolutely ruled the roost! She may have been the smallest dog in the pack, but there was no question that she was the leader. Muffin and Peanut would constantly chase each other around the house, and she loved playing with Jesse and all kinds of toys.
Muffin was the love of Alec’s life (aside from me!), and the two of them shared an incredibly strong bond. She was also a cuddly little dog who loved lap time. It really didn’t matter whose lap she was on as long as someone was holding her.
As Muffin got older, her health began to decline. She developed serious seizures and problems with her spine and eventually lost her sight. As walking became more difficult, Alec would carry her in a front pack when we went for walks so she could still come along with us. Eventually, she needed to be carried outside to go potty and carried wherever she needed to go.
When Muffin’s body could no longer function as it should, we rushed her to the emergency veterinarian and had to make the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye. She was 17 years old.
Even now, Alec can’t see another pug without tearing up. The bond they shared was that strong.
Our tough little girl, our cuddle bug, and the tiny leader of the pack is so very missed.
PEANUT
Staffordshire Terrier
Birthday: 09/07/2009
Died 09/08/2025
Peanut came to us through our daughter, Amanda. Amanda had gone to North Carolina in November 2009 after finding a puppy on Craigslist. Shortly afterward, she moved from a house to an apartment and realized that Peanut really needed more room to run. We agreed to welcome Peanut into our pack in November 2010, when she was just over a year old.
Peanut became the matriarch of our pack. Over the years, she taught many newcomers the ropes—how to behave, how to listen, and how things worked around our house. She was respected throughout the pack and was my right-hand lady.
Peanut also LOVED doing the zoomies! She would suddenly take off and race around like crazy, and it was quite comical to watch. She had a way of making us laugh and certainly knew how to enjoy herself.
As Peanut grew older, she slowed down and eventually could no longer play like she once did. It was very hard to watch, but we surrounded her with all the love and comfort we could give her.
The other dogs seemed to understand that Peanut was nearing the end of her life. Maddy, Emma, Popeye, and Tucker would come close to her, almost as if they were saying goodbye. Tucker especially stayed close to Peanut. He would lie beside her, give her kisses, and quietly keep her company. It was incredibly touching to watch him care for the old girl who had helped teach him the ropes when he joined our pack.
We took Peanut on one last camping trip because we knew our time with her was growing short. She really enjoyed that trip, and I’m so thankful we were able to give her that final adventure with her family.
One week later, we knew it was time. We took Peanut to the veterinarian, where we stayed with her as we said goodbye. Our veterinarian told us that Peanut held on until her heart stopped beating and that it took very little medication to help her peacefully let go.
Peanut passed away on September 8, 2025.
We miss her more than words can say. Sometimes, we still find ourselves looking for her. I don’t think Peanut was just our matriarch—the other dogs knew she was special, too.
Our matriarch. My right-hand lady. Our Peanut.