Exactly 1 year, to the day, apart Max and Shooter met each other on the rainbow bridge.   Shooter was my best friend.  Max was my baby.  Needless to say this year has been very, very hard for this dog-friendly wedding photographer.

Shooter was so special to both of us.

He was my husband’s dog first.  Josh adopted him when he was about 6 months old.  He got Josh through so much pain and hardship in life, never judging and always loving.  He brought us together during tough times.  He was the funniest, sweetest, little asshole you would have ever met in your life.  He loved his toys, wearing clothes, all forms of food, sitting in the sunshine, running home on his walks, being pushed in his stroller, his brother Max, his Daddy, and he LOVED his Momma.  We had something special, Shooter and me.  I MEAN it when I saw he was my best friend.  He followed me everywhere I went.  Loyal, fearless, loving…that was my Shooterbug.

I needed Shooter more than he needed me.

Losing Max was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through and losing Shooter was equally hard.   Max was my baby.  Our relationship was about my caring for him and meeting his needs.  He always filled a maternal hole for me.  Shooter was more like my equal.  I needed him way more than he needed me.  No doubt, loving me was a beautiful choice Shooter made.  An honor I will always cherish.  My connection with both Max and Shooter was nothing short of spiritual.  I don’t care if anyone thinks it’s stupid, crazy, self-involved, misguided maternal instinct, or whatever else you want to think.  I believe we had a connection that was bigger than this world.  It will always be with me.

Shooter’s Bird Box

Nearly every night since we moved into this home in 2015 we would walk Max and Shooter in our neighborhood.  We have a wonderful neighborhood.  There are a few parks and a “bird trail” that is made of a few scattered birdhouses on posts throughout the common areas.  Shooter LOVED following his nose.  Often, his nose would lead him to one particular bird house that we dubbed his “bird box”.  Shooter would hurriedly waddle up to the post and then hop and scratch indicating he wanted to be picked up.  One of us would hoist up his fluffy body and Shooter would sniff the opening to the bird house.  Only a few sniffs and he was satisfied.  It always cracked us up that he would get so excited just to sniff it a few times.

It’s very important to me that the memory of Shooter and Max is honored and respected.  It helps me work through my grief to know they will be remembered.  So, with the help of some amazing friends and the blessing of our neighborhood association we dedicated that bird box to the memory of our boys.

Now, as we walk Gracie, Gimli and Trigger and we walk by that bird box we can’t help but think about our boys.  We talk about the countless times Shooter sniffed that box and how Max never really got it but never let Shooter be alone.  We talk about that season our life and how sweet they made it.  It’s a great gift to know they won’t soon be forgotten and we can still have the opportunity to allow them to live on in us and our conversations.  Thanks for reading and remembering our boys!

Our Family Has Grown!

I’m very sensitive to people thinking or saying that we “got another one” or “a replacement”.  Let me be clear.  NOTHING could replace Max or Shooter.  They are not items that can be replaced. They were important, unique, and no dog we love in the future would cancel out the grief or love we had for them.

All that being said introducing: GIMLI (a Maltipoo) AND TRIGGER (a long-haired dachshund just like Shooter).   If you want to see more of these two puppies and our Gracie girl (and me, a Dog-Friendly Wedding Photographer) make sure your follow me on Instagram.

 

Thanks for reading about my furry family!  I’m a Dog-Friendly Wedding Photographer and if you want to incorporate your dog in your wedding day I’m the girl for you!  I love meeting other dog people!