Remembering an unforgettable dog: It's been a year since we said goodbye to Keira 

I read a quote recently that resonated with me. It said, "Grief does not shrink, we expand to accommodate it." The hole that Keira left in my life (and in Hazel's life) is as large as it was a year ago, but Hazel and I have grown to accept that it will always be there. On July 13, 2020, I made the difficult decision to euthanize my sweet, beloved Keira. Even though it was the right thing to do because she was suffering from an unknown illness (possibly gastric cancer) I had a hard time letting her go. I remember being in total disbelief. It's hard to believe a year has gone by already. 

Christmas mourning: How to cope with your first holiday season after losing a pet

I'm forcing myself to be festive this year. I've had times in my life when I skipped Christmas altogether. "I'm not Christmasing this year," I'd say when people asked me standard holiday questions like "Do you have your tree up yet?" This year I'm forcing myself to be festive for the sake of my mental health. One small reason is the COVID-19 pandemic has sucked so much happiness out of 2020 that I'm trying to infuse some of the obligatory Christmas joy into what's left of the year. The biggest reason for my forced festivities is Keira. More specifically the loss of Keira I suffered earlier this year.

Hurricane Hazel blew into our lives one year ago, and things have never been the same. I remember reading books and articles to prepare. How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond by Cesar Millan was a good one. Some things you just can’t plan for. Regardless, Hazel has been such a vibrant and curious puppy. She is so different when compared to Keira. From day one, Hazel has had a real sassy attitude- Little Miss Sass-Mouth. She is big. She is bold. She isn’t afraid of anything! She is pure comedy.