Dear Duke,

It’s been 3 days without you and I miss you terribly.  We all do.

I suppose I’ve been in denial for a very long time that someday you’d have to leave me and the end of life conversation would have to come up.  But I was really hoping you’d last forever. 

From the moment you chose us nearly 12 years ago in Washington, to the day you boarded that Houston flight for our expat journey to live in the UK, you’ve been right by my side.

The one who has always been there.  Longer than anything or anyone that I’ve ever known.  You’ve been my constant.  You’ve been my companion.  You’ve helped me through nights when I was scared to be alone, to share a snack (or perhaps two) and to even help me get through tough personal times. 

More than anyone – you’ve been my most reliable companion.  I’ve never ever been alone.  Because of you.

You’ve made every journey since we found you in Washington: from Oregon to Texas and the UK.  You showed us love and compassion in ways I will be forever indebted. 

You helped us create a life we loved, no matter where we were.

From long walks with me to short runs with your dad you’ve been our catalyst to making friends in new places and enjoying life, even at times when life seemed incapable of joy. 

Aside from your treat perch on the corner of the kitchen rug, you’ve never asked or complained about anything – not even when we had to rush you to the ER.   Twice.  And while your stoic nature has been one of the sweetest, coolest things about your personality, it overshadowed the possibility of any pain you might be feeling. 

It made the end of life conversation with the vet not seem possible.

Though your Lar Par worsened, preventing physical activity, your long lab tail has never stopped wagging.  We wanted to believe that just being with us was good enough.  So please forgive us if we held on for too long.  We just love you so much.

It took a move abroad to go for those old Oregon walks again like when you were a pup.  Only this time we got to turn walks into ending at the pub, eating Sunday roasts and to even enjoy our first true family vacation together.  Bath, Lower Slaughter, and Cornwall will always be extra special places for us.

I’m so grateful for the last year we had.  I think about it now and truly believe that the UK gave us an extra year with you.  The brisk air, the dog-friendly environment, and of course, the pubs, all seemed to put a spring back in your step when we settled into English life a year ago.

Though 100% American Field Trial lab on the outside, that heart of yours is unquestionably a bit British.

Your love for the pub both with and without us will be stories told for a very long time.  Your first calendar opp for The Six Bells Pub 2019 calendar will continue, allowing your legend and story to live on. 

Always a head turner with the ladies (even the men!) and spoiled rotten by the attention everywhere we went.  You fascinated people: your good looks, well-mannered behavior, lovable nature, and stature.  You will always be my dignified American British boy.

Knox’s first word of “Duke” will stay with him forever, and Addison’s love on you when you came home from the hospital after discovering your Lar Par condition will always warm my heart. 

And your yellow hair that you left everywhere in every house that drove me absolutely nuts, is now what I can’t bear to clean up.  We are praying to find you in every corner of our house for years to come, including the next phase of moving boxes, wherever our next home shall be. 

The end of life decision for you was the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make.  The shock of hearing that “it was time” put everything in our life on hold so we could spend every last minute with you. 

I’m so grateful we had that time with you.  Time to give you that belly rub, to help you calm down so that you could breathe, and to have that special picnic in the backyard while sharing pizza slices. 

But most importantly to tell you we love you and that it’s ok.  It’s ok to go now.  You’ve been amazing.  The most amazing yellow lab we could have ever imagined or dreamed for.

You are the dog that we will never forget.  The dog that made wherever we were, a life we truly loved.

And we will never ever forget it. 

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