Penny's Memorial - Saying goodbye to my best friend

Penny Brooks (2008 - May 9, 2020)

This post is a tribute and a memorial to my little buddy. We had to say goodbye our little dog Penny. In extraordinary pain, after a dozen vet visits she was finally diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a bone cancer with low prognosis. Her suffering ended and we said our final goodbyes.

She died in our arms this morning. Her life ended peacefully, and I am thankful that we could both be there at the end.

Words cannot express the love and gratitude that Teresa and I felt for this little dog. We have no children and Penny filled that void in our lives. It feels like a piece of me is gone forever. She was family, and saying goodbye to her was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

You truly were my best little friend Penny. I am going to miss you.

My best friend

We adopted Penny in December 9, 2009 in Edmonton, AB. She was a stray, found roaming the freezing streets of in an Alberta winter. We had originally planned to adopt a different dog, in fact Teresa explicitly stated that she did not want to adopt "a white dog with tear stains". But, we stopped by her kennel and she captured our hearts in a second. I will never forget that moment. She jumped right into our laps and lathered us with kisses. Teresa just looked at me, and in that moment we knew we had found our dog.

She was full grown when we adopted her, but still very much a puppy in attitude. We will never really know when she was born, but we guess she was born sometime in late 2008 or early 2009.

Penny right after adoption - Dec, 2009.

We lived in Edmonton with Penny from Dec 2009 until June 2013. Our lives were very different then, and Penny really became the focus of our leisure time. Weekends were spent at the wonderful dog park, or exploring easy trails at nearby provisional parks. Summers were spent camping, hiking and wandering in the Canadian Rockies. Penny was our constant companion. Always along for the ride, tail wagging, joy in her eyes.

Penny loving life on an autumn day at Elk Island National Park

Playing in the tall prairie grass

Like many dogs, Penny loved the snow. Winters in Alberta are long, dark and cold, but Penny didn't mind. No matter how cold or how much snow had fallen she was would run and play in the fresh snow.

Snow play

Always looking for a lap to sit on

Penny was a wonderful dog, but like all great dogs found herself in trouble from time to time.

Penny in trouble

Even more trouble

We traveled all across Canada with her. She came with us many times to the West Coast, and even made the long drive across the Great Plains to Thunder Bay. She loved to ride in the car with us, sitting on a lap was mandatory.

Penny in the Great Plains

Little dog with a big life

When our life changed and we made our big move to California, Penny was quick to adapt to our new home. Trips to the Sierra Nevada, to the crags, and to the ocean were all part of her weekend activities with us.

Sleeping on coats and backpacks were the new normal

Penny in Joshua Tree

Penny loved going to the dog beach on the coast

A little dog in the big wide world

The best way to travel

There are so many things I loved about her. How she came under the covers at night when she was cold. The hugs she would give me before I brought her for a walk. The kisses. The slow tip tap of her claws on the floor early in the morning when the cheese drawer opened. Digging in the bed and rolling around like a little beast. Her hatred of all living things non-human. Her highly precise peeing.

She was a happy dog, her life was bigger than her small body. We love her and will always miss her. Goodbye little friend, you are gone but will never be forgotten.

Goodbye Penny