With broken hearts, we ( my mother and I) are sharing the sudden and unexpected loss of my mother’s beloved dog, Babooshka (Boo Boo). Boo Boo had the most fun-loving, rambunctious personality, and as she mellowed with age, everyone described her as incredibly gentle and sweet. She was a constant in our family’s lives for 12 years, and losing her has left an ache that words can barely explain.

Boo Boo stayed right by my mom’s side — literally on her — through surgeries, bedridden years, and long recoveries. She was my mom’s loyal emotional support dog, her hiking buddy and protector, her walking partner, her home security guard, and even her mobility support during chronic health struggles. Watching my mother grieve Boo Boo’s loss has been absolutely heartbreaking. My brother and I are devastated too — she wasn’t just my mom’s dog, she was our family. No one could ever throw her dinosaur toy enough. She loved to cuddle, play, and run with us, and she filled our home with so much love and life.

In the final days, we did everything we possibly could for Boo Boo, holding onto prayers and hope until the very end. Along with the overwhelming grief, my mom is now facing the heavy financial burden that came with trying to save her — including four days of hospitalization in intensive care. Boo Boo had recently been given a clean bill of health with many more years expected, which makes this loss even harder to understand. Asking for help is incredibly difficult, but we are hoping to ease some of the financial strain left behind from Boo Boo’s care. Any donation, share, prayer, or kind thought truly means more than we can ever express. Thank you for being there for our family during one of the hardest times of our lives.