The Boss | Sparky

Here I celebrate our store mascot, Sparky, crossed over the rainbow bridge in October 2025.  

I’ve had Sparky for 9.5 years, (we think) he was 16.5.  We were introduced by my old dog walker, Donna.  She took care of my previous wonder dog, Julia.  He had just lost his dog mom, and I was ready for a new companion.  Sparky and Julia knew each other; it was a sign.  

He had personality and swagger.  He could be a punk and a little stubborn.  But most of all he was sweet.  Never mean and rarely naughty.  His kisses felt like little pieces of sandpaper.  He was loyal.  Sometimes jealous.  He loved being on the job greeting people in the store and barking when people walked by.  We loved sitting outside just to watch traffic. 

We went on so many adventures, including our epic year-long road trip around the US before, and during, COVID.  He was my rock when I moved here and opened this business 5 years ago.  I took him everywhere; he loved being in the truck.  He had this huge dense foam captain’s chair car-seat that allowed him to look out of all the windows in the truck. 

He loved the Chuckit! and had a collection of Lamb Chops in every size and stage of seasoning.  He was relentless in his play time.  He didn’t mind the rain but hated his snow booties.  He could walk 3-4 miles, then want to go out again.  He loved sautéed and roasted vegetables, and of course, steak.

About 1.5 years ago, while getting his teeth cleaned, they found tumors in his mouth.  (Coincidently, he had begun to eat sideways, I didn’t make too much of it at the time, not that that would have mattered).  The vet was not sure how much time he had…weeks, months maybe.  So, we lived every day like it was our last.  Recently, the tumors in his mouth seemed to disappear or maybe they just moved further down his throat.  Our walks got shorter, to the corner was a good day.  He slept almost all day.  Then he stopped eating.  He got down to 13.5 lbs, down from 20.  Till the end, he was still giving me kisses. 

I know many of you can relate.  The loss is real.  A neighbor said there was a rainbow the morning  we were traveling to the vet.  I’ll take that as another sign.

To the moon and back.