Duke

2019 - 2025

In Loving Memory of Our Duke 🤍🐾
Our sweet Duke had just turned 5. We truly thought we had so much more time with him. Losing him so unexpectedly has left a hole in our family that I don’t think words can fully explain.

Duke wasn’t just our dog. He was such a **big, special, heavy part of our lives**—all 190 pounds of him, filled completely with love. ❤️

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about him. The wound still feels so raw, almost as if we lost him yesterday. I miss his sweet, gentle soul. I miss coming home and seeing him. I miss him running straight to my car because, of course, that meant it was time for his daily car ride.

And I miss all the things that were just so *Duke*.

He loved pizza. He loved sweets. And steak? Duke could probably smell a steak cooking from a mile away. 😂

I still laugh thinking about the time he somehow chewed through an **entire bottle of melatonin and ate it**. I was absolutely terrified, waiting for something to happen…and Duke didn’t even get drowsy. Nothing. Just Duke being Duke. 😂

One of my favorite memories will always be our little routine with Gomez. Dad did **not** want Duke sleeping on our bed, but Duke clearly had his own opinion about that rule.

The second I would say, **“Gomez is home!”** Duke would ZOOM off our bed and jump into his dog bed, pretending like he had been sleeping there the entire time. 😂

And when Gomez left the house? Duke knew exactly what to do. He would stand at the window and watch him walk out, pull out of the driveway, and drive away. He would make absolutely sure Gomez was gone…

…and then hop right back onto our bed. 😂❤️

Those are the memories that make me smile through the tears.

Duke, you were truly **one of the BEST things that ever happened to us.** You brought so much love, laughter, comfort, and happiness into our home in the short five years we were blessed to have you.

Five years just wasn’t enough.

I hope wherever you are now, you aren’t hurting anymore. I hope you’re running, eating all the steak and pizza you want, taking endless car rides, and sleeping on every bed you can find without anyone telling you to get down.

And more than anything, I hope Heaven brought you to my mom and to Lady, my first baby. I like to imagine that somehow they were there waiting for you when you arrived, so you weren't alone. 🤍

Until we meet again, my sweet boy, please know how deeply you were loved.

You weren’t “just a dog.”

**You were family. You were home. You were 190 pounds of pure love. And you left paw prints on our hearts that will stay there forever.**

We miss you every single day, Duke.

**You were the best boy.
You still are. 🤍🐾**

Forever our Duke.
Forever loved.
Forever missed.