Goodnight Sweet Lexi. We love you.
It’s taken us six months to write this goodbye. Our Lexi brought us so much love and joy. She also brought her older sister Sierra much annoyance but that’s what little puppy sisters do, right? After nearly 12 loving years we had to let our sweet Rhodesian Ridgeback go in May 2024. It took us this long to finally share our loss publicly. We wanted to stay quite, private and just take our time to condition ourselves to living without her. Saying goodbye was so hard for us (and still is) as we struggled to still understand how her lower back injury caused so much trauma to her overall health.
Coming home to a quiet, dog-less house after 25 years of having dog kids
Lexi had almost 12 years of wonderful walks, road trips, treats, beach romps, homemade treats, chasing squirrels and more treats. In return she showered us with loyalty and unconditional love. It’s always hard to let our fur-babies go. This time was extra hard because for the last 25 years we’ve always had a dog or dogs to come home to. There was always a joyous wagging tail and slobbering puppy to greet us at the door. From our first fur baby Dante to boxer Sierra and then Lexi, there was never a dull moment in the house. But this time, there was no fur baby.
We’re usually a 2-dog family but after losing Sierra in 2020, we decided to just have Lexi as an only-pup. Lexi was getting older and with her lower back injury that kept her from running and walking normally we decided to not have another rambunctious puppy around. A new little sibling pup could cause more injury to aging Lexi and we were pretty certain Lexi loved being the spoiled only-pup.
But now, coming home to no comforting pup after letting a dog go was rough. The house was quiet and there was no loving pup at home to comfort us and bring us joy during a sad time. There was just the empty dog bed, a half empty water bowl and tears to remind us that being doggy-less was rough. It’s a life we have to adjust to.
Ready to See the World Until We Adopt Fur Babies
After a few months of figuring out what to do with our free time, cleaning the house of leftover and used dog toys and stuff, we’re ready to let you all know we’re ok and living life without a dog. Well, for just a short bit until we adopt more dogs. In the meantime, we’re going to travel the world a bit and seek some new adventures that we couldn’t otherwise with our dogs. We’ve always focused our travel and adventures around our dogs so adjusting to an adventure without our pups will be different. Gratifying we’re sure, but just different.
Enjoy our little Memorial Video of Lexi
Thank you Friends for being part of our online family.
Thank you friends for being with us and all our pups through the years on the blog. Here’s some fun past stories and reminders of why our lives were so enriching and fulfilled because of Dante, Sierra and Lexi.
- Euology to Dante
- Strawberry muffins in memory of Dante
- Caring for Elderly Dogs
- Dante and Sierra’s favorite flaxseed biscuits
- Dante and Sierra catching possums
- Holiday favorites: Dante and Sierra loving their homemade peanut butter biscuits
- Bringing Lexi Home
- Sierra and Lexi’s Montana Fly Fishing Trip
- Lexi and her Summer Adventures
- Ultimate Dog Beach Romping Guide
- More dog and travel stories
oh I knew this day would come. I’m so sad for you! I know this pain, of a dog-less house. A house is never so silent as one without its doggies…and yet, as you point out, there are upsides like travel. After 18 years of puppy-kisses, we knew we needed time to grieve. It took 4 years until we felt “ready” again. Travel is a good salve. My heart is with you.
Hi Todd & Diane.
Sorry for your loss as I know the emptiness that your home is at the present time, but when the right time comes along you will find the right dog that will bring the life back to both of you. The last dog I had was a Siberian Husky who was the smartest I ever had. I lost him in 2002 at the age of 13.5 and I still miss him. My condolences to you both. I will always be here for you. Love you both. Uncle Pat
We are so sorry for your loss of Lexi💔. She was such a sweet girl and had the best parents ever ❤️ We understand your loss, miss their love so much ❤️🩹miss our pups❤️Sending love and thinking of you both.
Thanks Cheryl. We all love our pups so much and miss the love they give us too.
I am so sorry for your loss. I remember all of your very special fur babies and know only too well how hard it is to lose them. Take the time you need to heal and get ready for your next doggie adventure.
We definitely look forward to the next phase of our lives with new fur babies. Thank you Leah.
My heart aches for you guys. Thank you for sharing, and reminding me to love on Rush and Maple. They’re never here long enough, are they?
Hi Kate, Rush and Maple are very lucky to have you. Yes they’re never here long enough that’s why we make every moment count with our pups.
Your Lexi looks so much like our Lucy, a serendipitous rescue from three months ago. Keep your hearts open, another angel that needs you will appear.
Hi Ginger, how exciting to have rescued Lucy and she’s so lucky too. Lexi looked like a Dachshund when she was a puppy. But when she started to grow, the Rhodesian Ridgeback definitely came through. 🙂
So sorry for your loss. It is one of the harder things we endure when loving a pup. But they bring us so much joy ( I keep telling myself that when my puppy chews the carpet or digs holes in the yard.). Enjoy your world travels when you can.
Thank you Sarah. Lexi chewed shoes our shoes all the way up till she was about 7 years old. Forever our lovable puppy. 🙂
Oh, wow, kids. I am so sorry. They leave such huge holes in our hearts when they leave us. She was a beauty! xoxo
Thank you Dani. Miss you and hope all is well. xoxo
I am so sorry for your loss and completely understand your sorrow. We lost our 19 -year old cat, Maui, to natural death 2 weeks ago. I was beside myself. Maui was like a dog rather than a cat. I can’t write about him, too much pain. I admire your strength to write about your Lexi. I hope the Rainbow Bridge is real, because I have lost (in my 70 years of life) so many furry companions. They are like family to us, aren’t they.
God bless you,
Roz
Thank you Roz. Our hearts ache for you too for loss of Maui. 19 years of joy and love was what you both shared together. That’s incredible. hugs.
I’m so very sorry! Dogs just grab a special place in our hearts, don’t they. You made her life beautiful. 💖
Yes, they’re so special and for us, they’re our fur-babies. They make our lives complete and beautiful too. Thanks for your thoughts Laura.
So sorry for your loss, all of your losses. The loss of our babies is heartbreaking, but I can see you both have given them wonderful lives full of love. It took me eight years to adopt another pet. We wish they could live forever ♥️
Thank you Gloria. Eight years is a long time. We’ll try not to wait that long. We’re missing so much of those everyday laughs and happy greetings. But we definitely need time to travel a bit on our own because every vacation was with our dogs. It wasn’t an issue. We haven’t been on an airplane in years!
empty houses and empty hearts are tough. have wonderful travels.. them get out there and save a dog!🙏🤩
Yeah, it’s been quiet around here. We definitely look forward to saving a dog (or two) very soon. Thank you Betty. xo
todd and diane: thank you for sharing about lexi and taking your time to do so. i have a feeling i know what you’re going through as i said good bye to my zabby in july after 15 years and am living dog free for the first time in 36 years. your photos are beautiful. wishing you both well as your hearts heal.
Thanks Jude and for sharing your story too. Hoping you are doing well after losing Zabby. Wow, 36 years of having dogs in your life, that’s a long time. And hope you are able to rescue another pup soon.