Moose & Friends

04/29/2024

📣 We are starting to plan for our favorite client appreciation event where we rent out a waterpark and spend time with just YOU (and up to 799 other guests... hahaha). Save the date, more deets to come! 😁😍

09/01/2023

Callie is a Disney princess? Of course she is. 😂

Check out Steve Webb's video.

07/21/2023

(Trigger warning: images of pet euthanasia)

Moose was a phenomenal dog. We adopted him from Sooner Golden Retriever Rescue shortly after we were married. He was an important part of our family, bringing together the blended messiness and creating home. We promised him long ago we wouldn’t let him suffer. And, we knew it was time to keep our promise.

We also knew we wanted to be fully present in his celebration of life, in the joy he brought to us, in the Last Day, and in our final goodbye while still capturing the beauty of the moments. So, as weird as it felt, we asked our family photographer, Sara Hurt, if she would accompany us. She’s a softie, and we knew what a big ask this was and that she would cry the whole time. Still, she said yes without hesitation.

We called Lap of Love and scheduled his Rainbow Bridge Crossing for 1pm at our house on July 5th. And then we called friends and family to make his Last Day one worthy of The Moose.

First, we went to Steven & Emily’s house where Moose could swim in a sea of tennis balls. He fell getting in. But he didn’t care. He would do anything for a swim… I think they’re still cleaning hair out of their filters. 😘

Then we stopped by Arby’s to grab his favorite roast beef sandwiches. Four for ten bucks- they must have known he was coming. 🤣 We headed to the park – where he had taken many walks back in his younger years – and he devoured three of the sandwiches. Hoozagoodboy?!

Then, we stopped off at Yellow Dog Coffee Company where Rob and Sereta did what they do best- they made us feel like family. When they heard Moose was coming in for his Last Day Latte, they asked staff and patrons to gather and greet him like royalty, which they did, and Moose ate up the attention…and the whipped cream. There were laughs, tears, and hugs from strangers. There was community and connection. There was celebration.

And finally, we came back home so we could spend a little time just being with him. He was tired. He was ready to rest.

The kids said their goodbyes and went to friends’ houses. A huge thank you to Alicia and Lisa for creating that safe space for the kids.

The vet arrived and was so tender and kind, full of compassion. The experience was incredible and Moose got to cross the Bridge in his own home, surrounded by Love.

We opted for a private cremation and he should return home soon, to take his place on the shelf with the others that devoted their entire lives to making our family complete.

I wasn’t sure I would share these. But I want you to know there was a dog named Moose. And I want you to know how deeply grateful I am to have known and loved him. To have been loved by him.

And, I hope I can encourage someone to celebrate and make it a big effin’ deal on Last Day. They deserve it.

There are so many of you I’d love to tag and thank for your texts, calls, cards, and love. They meant the world to us. ❤️

📷 Sara Biese Hurt with Sara's Photo Creations, llc

07/05/2023

Hi, Moose. It’s me, your dad. You crossed the rainbow bridge a couple of hours ago and I’m sitting in the living room, listening to the quiet, pondering your life. I’m wondering how to describe you to people who – much to their misfortune – never had the opportunity to meet you.

Your physical size was always what people remembered about you. And though you were a giant and downright regal to look at, it’s the sounds I will remember most.

The clicking of your hooves, I mean toenails, on the tile floor. The tumultuous sloshing of water as you drank from the water dish. The squeak of your dinner plate-sized tongue pre-rinsing the dishes (thank you for your “help” with that).

Some of your sounds were annoying and even downright rude. The way you burped after every meal and licked ALL of your pack-mates’ food bowls after they were done, y’know, just in case they missed some. Your farts. Oh, the humanity, your farts were horrific. And don’t get me started on the morning hurka-gurkas (if you know, you know) or, worse, the incessant slobbering, squishy, smacking sound in the middle of the night of you licking who-knows-what-body-part in the wee hours of the morning.

When you were young, your sounds were awe-inspiring. Your deep, commanding bark – always as the referee, restoring law and order – and never a menacing growl. The way your barrel chest nearly echoed when I patted it. The funny whistle your nose made when you swam, always holding one or two tennis balls in your mouth.

But then you got older and the sounds changed. The quick and agile clicking of toenails became scrapes as your hips failed you. The resigning exhale of fatigue as you plopped down against a wall to support you. The shallow panting for what seemed like hours after only a brief walk.

The last sound I remember is my heart breaking while looking into your chocolate brown eyes and saying goodbye.

And now the silence is deafening.

07/05/2023

Hoozagoodboy?

📷: Sara's Photo Creations, llc

06/27/2023

I’m getting pretty for my Rainbow Bridge Day next week. I’m not sure what that is but Mom said something about ice cream so it must be good. Everyone keeps fussing over me and kissing me. People are weird.

My legs gave out but I didn’t want Barbie to know I hurt a little. She kissed me and I kissed her right back. Who’s a good boy? Me. Duh.

- Moose

06/19/2023

We are sad to share that Moose’s Rainbow Bridge date has been scheduled. We will be letting him go, surrounded by family in his home, in a couple weeks. We have a wonderful “Last Day” planned with all his favorite things, and we will share more on that later because we know you love Moose, too.

In the meantime, what does Moose get to do? Well, whatever he wants, of course.

Finish off an empty peanut butter jar? ✅
Lay in Mama’s chair? ✅
Ride to Starbucks for a pup cup even though he leaks a little? Lol ✅
Sit on the bench at the dinner table and beg? ✅

03/29/2023

My dad says I’m his body pillow. 🙄

11/24/2022

Happy Thanksgiving from Callie, Freddie Mac, Fizbo, and Moose!

11/12/2022

09/17/2022

I know I’m not allowed on the counter, but is one of those for me?

08/08/2022

Guess what? 🥰🤩

Meet Calliope! We call her Callie 😘

07/08/2022

Old Man Moose takes a nap. ❤️

07/03/2022

06/27/2022

Promises to an Old Dog

Dear Moose,

I promise I see you slowing down. I want you to know you can take all the time you need as we navigate this next season with you.

You used to be my running buddy and now you’re my cool-down-dog. I promise, I love that, too. I cherished the moment tonight as we paused by the lake for you to rest.

And I just stared at you in awe.

Moose, I see you.

I promise I noticed every time eleven years ago you dropped your tennis ball in my lap but I was too busy raising babies to throw it. You never cared. You were just happy to be included.

I promise I saw every wag of your tail as the babies grabbed your fur, your ears, your tail while learning to move around. You get that most dogs wouldn’t do that, right? You were an amazing mama to the boys.

And you were amazing to me. I promise I remember every time you let me cry into your fur because I was exhausted, or thought I wasn’t good enough to be their mom, or when that postpartum depression kicked in after the second one. How many tears did you lick from my cheeks? How many kisses on my face?

I promise I knew every night you wanted to curl up in the bed with us but there was a nursing baby in the way, or a sick toddler, or a scared kid.

I promise I know how devoted you are still to our family. We all know!

Thank you for your patience, your kindness, your loyalty. Thank you for being the PERFECT family dog who was always content to just wait for your turn, even if it meant days.

Moose, I promise I won’t let you suffer. As the pain begins creeping in, I promise I’ll look in your caramel eyes every day and as soon as you tell us, we’ll let you go, and we will all be by your side just as you were ours all these years.

There are many great dogs, and among them, you are one of the best.

Thank you for your love.

Love,
Mom

05/12/2022

Ten years ago, this week, I was caught red-handed.

05/10/2022

Dad, seriously? I’m just trying to nap here.

02/03/2022

Did you know I’m a professional peacekeeper? Don’t start none, won’t be none.

01/11/2022

On this day in 2010. Just look at me. I was the cutest.

01/05/2022

I have an unhealthy relationship with bubbles.

01/02/2022

Caption this.