My name is Jeff Alexander, and I was lucky enough to have married into being a dog parent to the one, the only Damien Boots. When I first met Damien about 7 years ago, he immediately warmed his way into my heart, quickly becoming my best buddy. I have countless memories of adventures with him and moments that felt like he would be spunky, smart, and energetic forever. Sadly, that was not the case, and his time to cross the rainbow bridge came on 2/28/25. He was almost 18 years old. Damien is now free of all the pain that came later in life and is running around, eating all the food in the world, and playing with his favorite toy lamb chop. He's probably barking at all the other dogs, and I have no doubt he is already the king of the castle.

Damien was one of the most unique dogs I have ever met. He was tiny in stature, but he had the personality of a giant. He fiercely loved his family members and would protect them from any perceived threat, which included ALL other dogs, both small and large, and, oddly enough, waiters at restaurants.

He was perhaps the best cuddler to have ever existed. I cherished the moments that he would lay on my belly or squish himself right next to my leg. Despite his small size, he somehow managed to take up most of our bed when he slept with us. I would wake up, and he would be snuggled so close to me that I was about to fall off the bed, worried that if I rolled over, I would squish him. If I tried to move him, he would give a subtle growl as if to say, "I hear you, I understand you, but I am not moving." What I wouldn't give for more of those snuggles.

Damien was super smart. He could figure out how to get out of or around any obstacle. When his mind was set on something, nothing was going to get in his way. He also was not afraid to take risks, often leaping like Superman from heights that he had no reason to be jumping from!

Even with all of his other wonderful traits, there is nothing that defined Damien more than his intense hunger. He would eat anything and everything in his way. He would eat more than dogs three times his size every day, and I am sure he would have eaten even more given the chance. He had a hunger for life and a hunger for... food. If you said the word treat, he would work himself into a frenzy, spinning around and whining until he got his reward. If you ever brought home a pizza, he would unlock another level of hunger, often forcing himself on your lap in the search of getting a bite.

Over the time that I knew Damien, there were moments where I felt like he was my best friend and the only one I could confide in. He never told anyone my secrets! It seems silly when I type it, but there are moments I truly do not know how I would have gotten through without him. I am forever grateful to him for being right there by my side from the day I met him.

I have been searching for some way to try to help heal the hole in my heart. I have decided that, to start, I would like to raise money in his honor to provide for other dogs in need. I feel like we were able to give Damien a great life. We rarely left him home and provided almost as much for him as our kids. He was just as much a part of our family as anyone else. I know that he would want other dogs to have a good life as well.

That is why I have decided to run the Newport Beach Marathon in his honor and to use it as an opportunity to raise money for the Humane Society Silicon Valley. I know that he will be with me step for step, and I hope you will be able to honor his memory by donating to this great cause.