Remembering Theo

I will always remember July 14th as the day I said goodbye to Theo. Theo will always remember it, I hope, as the best day of his life – filled with long walks, lots of cuddles, penne alla vodka, and Peter Luger steak. 

From the moment he was adopted, Theo was in charge. He dragged me home from Animal Haven with the confidence of a middle aged white man – even though he had no clue where he was going. I sighed with relief that, like a true New Yorker, Theo was a fast walker. He was immediately the focal point of our household It didn’t take long for our apartment to fill with his beloved toys, beds, and blankets and for our furniture to quickly become his territory too.

Theo always knew what he wanted, and he didn’t hesitate to tell you. He loved his toys. He had dozens at home and sought out more as soon as he got to a new person’s house. He loved his personal space, which to many people’s confusion was at odds with his cute and fluffy appearance. He protected us fiercely: in the car from outside strangers, on the dock from boats, and sometimes even in our home from each other.

He loved snacks, and I took advantage of that love to make Theo the best trained dog he could be. Training unlocked a whole new side of Theo’s personality – from the very impressive tricks he learned, to asking to be picked up when he’d had enough of hiking.

He lived life to the fullest. He threw himself into everything he did – sometimes literally. He checked off every item on his bucket list. 

Since Theo entered my life, I’ve grown and adapted in ways I never could have imagined. I learned how to respect and cherish his unique personality and needs, and to advocate for him at the vet, the groomer, and when strangers wanted to pet him on the street. I found new passion in dog behavior, and even started DigUp to help all families with dogs thrive. 

Theo – I love for you forever buddy.