Phoebe was more than just a dog to us — she was family, she was our baby. She brought so much joy, love, and personality into our lives and into the lives of everyone who met her. She was goofy, affectionate, and full of life, and our home feels so empty without her.
Phoebe was a Lab–Great Dane mix with the most beautiful coloring. When we first got her, she was completely black, but as she grew up her coat slowly began turning blonde with a dark stripe down her back. She would have turned three years old on April 24th.
Despite her size, Phoebe was convinced she was a tiny lap dog and the biggest cuddle bug you could imagine. Every morning, whoever got out of bed first would instantly lose their spot — Phoebe would happily climb in and take it. She loved the water more than anything. Whenever we visited my mom and stepdad’s house, she would run straight outside and jump into their pool. At the beach, she would pounce on the waves and chase birds along the shoreline.
Phoebe was there for some of the biggest moments in our lives. She moved into our very first home with us, stayed by our side through multiple deployments, helped me get through nursing school, was there when we got married, and was even there when we found out we were going to have a baby. Through every season of life, she was our constant companion and source of comfort.
She had the funniest little mannerisms. If you spoke to her, she would tilt her head like she truly understood every word. She was incredibly sweet, eager to please, and brought comfort to everyone she met. During Gabe’s deployments, she was my best friend, my constant companion, and a source of peace and comfort. Everyone who knew Phoebe loved her.
On March 4th, shortly after coming home from a routine spay and gastropexy procedure, Phoebe suddenly collapsed in our living room and stopped breathing. We rushed her to the emergency vet while performing CPR in the car. The incredible team there was able to briefly restore her heartbeat, but they discovered she was suffering from severe internal bleeding and likely brain injury from lack of oxygen. After discussing the situation with the veterinarian, we made the heartbreaking decision to let her go peacefully.
We are devastated by this sudden loss and are still processing everything that happened. The emergency care and surgery expenses have been significant, and our family has started this fundraiser to help with the unexpected veterinary costs.
Phoebe’s life ended far too soon, but the life she lived was filled with love, adventure, and joy. She was deeply loved and will always be part of our family, and the memories she gave us will stay with us forever.
Thank you to everyone who has loved Phoebe and continues to support our family during this incredibly painful time. Your kindness truly means more to us than words can express.