10/12/2026
Yesterday, we had to say goodbye to our Buster Boo, and my heart is broken in a million different ways.
Three years ago, when I met Tyler, I pretty much stole his dog right out from under him. Tyler worked long hours, and I had the flexibility to make my own schedule, so naturally I spent a lot of time with the dogs. I had Loki, Tyler had Buster, and before long, we had ourselves a little family.
When Loki met Buster, he was still grieving the loss of his best friend, my boxer Abbey, who we lost to cancer. Loki had spent so much time moping around, missing his girl, and then along came Buster. They became buddies, and eventually we decided to add Togo to the mix. What’s one more dog, right?
And just like that, we had our own little pack.
Buster was 11 years old. When he was just 5, he blew out his knee and needed extensive surgery to repair it. So we always had to be a little more careful with our Boo. While the other dogs could run around like absolute lunatics, Buster needed a little extra attention. A little less roughhousing, a little more watching over him.
Over the last few months, we started noticing Buster slowing down. His mobility was getting worse, and there were mornings I’d get up to let the dogs outside and he’d just lay there, not wanting to move. You could tell his leg was bothering him.
We took him to the vet, and for the last few months we’ve been managing his pain and doing everything we could to keep him comfortable. But slowly, the muscle in his right leg was disappearing, and his left leg was struggling to carry the weight his right one couldn’t anymore.
Months ago, Tyler and I had a conversation about Buster’s quality of life. We promised each other that if the day came where Buster needed pain medication just to get up and go to the bathroom, we’d have to start asking ourselves whether we were keeping him here for him, or for us.
Yesterday, October 11th, Thanksgiving Sunday, that day came.
Buster wouldn’t get up. Even after his pain medication, he just couldn’t do it. When we finally managed to help him onto his feet, it became painfully obvious that he couldn’t even go outside to go to the bathroom without our assistance.
And just like that, the conversation we’d been dreading for months became a reality.
At 4:20 p.m. on October 11th, 2026, our Buster Boo crossed the rainbow bridge.
He was Tyler’s best friend, and my stolen one.
We came home yesterday to a house that somehow felt completely empty, despite still having Loki and Togo here. It’s strange how you can have two dogs running around and still feel the absence of just one so deeply.
We’d missed Thanksgiving dinner with our family, so after one of the hardest days we’ve had, I threw together some chicken strips and fries for supper.
And that’s when it really hit me.
You see, whenever I finish eating, whatever is left on my plate gets divided up between the dogs. Three dogs, three little piles. It’s something I’ve done without even thinking about it for years.
So there I was, sitting at the table, dividing up my leftovers.
One pile for Loki.
One pile for Togo.
And one pile for Buster.
Except Buster wasn’t there anymore.
I hadn’t even realized what I was doing until I looked down at my plate and saw those three little piles.
And my heart broke all over again.
Three years wasn’t nearly enough time for me to love you, Boo. And I know 11 years wasn’t nearly enough for your dad either.
We truly never get enough time with them.
Rest in absolute paradise, my sweet Buster Boo. I hope those legs of yours are working like brand new again, and you’re running around up there without a single ache or pain.
I hope my Abbey girl was waiting for you. Tell her I still miss her more than words can explain.
And if you happen to run into our dads up there, could you tell them we love them and miss them so much too?
Your dad loved you your whole life, and I was lucky enough to love you for the last three years of it.
I’ll probably keep making that third little pile for a while, Boo.
I love you, my sweet boy. Always. ❤️
October 11, 2026 — 4:20 p.m. 🐾
