The Heartwarming Journey of My Beloved Dog Taz

The Heartwarming Journey of My Beloved Dog Taz

By Lars Guo

Published: May 25, 2024

Opening Message:Yesterday was a bittersweet day as my dog, Taz, reached the end of his journey. He passed away on May 24th, 2024, after struggling with mobility issues that made it too difficult for him to move and enjoy life. This blog is a tribute to Taz's story, from his puppyhood to his final years.

Photo of Taz taken by me.

Taz’s Background: Taz was born on October 5th, 2008, in Maine, as part of a litter of two. He had a little sister. Initially, Taz was raised to be a show dog, but his mellow personality and shorter stature didn’t quite fit that path. At 8 months old, on June 6th, we adopted him. His original name was Felon, but we felt Taz suited him better—a name that reflected his innocent yet mischievous nature. Taz lived a full life, passing away at 15 years, 7 months, and 19 days old.

Taz’s Traits:Taz was a caring, compassionate, loyal, and loving dog. He was smart, athletic, and calm—always a great companion and family friend. His love for food was legendary. One of his nicknames was "Lickey Tongue," inspired by the Pokémon Lickitung, because of his love for giving kisses. Taz’s love was unconditional, always showering us with puppy love, licking my legs and face until I was covered in his affection. He was great with both people and other dogs, never ran away, and was an excellent leader. Taz touched the hearts of everyone, even those who weren’t usually fond of dogs.

Puppyhood:Taz was a quick learner and a true prodigy. I taught him tricks like high-five, reach, hide and seek, and a game where he’d choose the hand with the treat. He even participated in agility courses. His first doggy daycare dubbed him the "cruise director." Taz went on many ski trips with our family friends and their dog, who was Taz’s cousin. My brothers and I would run around the house with him. Taz loved playing tug-of-war and running through obstacle courses we set up. He also enjoyed photo shoots and soon learned to pose, as he loved the attention.

Young-Mid Adulthood: As Taz grew older, he calmed down, though he still enjoyed playing with toys on occasion. He continued to love playing with other dogs and people and traveling. Snow was one of his favorite playgrounds. Every year on his birthday, he was a guest at doggy daycare—a tradition he kept since puppyhood. Our family also loved playing a game called “front and back,” where Taz would run between the front and back of the house. Unfortunately, as his arthritis set in, he couldn’t play the game as much.

Older Years: In his older years, Taz became a therapy dog. He visited elderly housing facilities and schools with my dad. He also continued his birthday tradition at doggy daycare until the pandemic forced the place to close. Despite slowing down, Taz’s love for food and people never wavered. Eventually, his mobility declined, and we knew it was time to let him go. Taz let us know when it was time, and we scheduled his appointment for 3:00 pm on May 24th, 2024.

Photo of Taz from his last full day, May 23, 2024.

Closing Message:Rest in peace, my little pup, a true homebody. We will always love and miss you every day. Thank you for being a part of our family, Taz! May your time in the afterlife be filled with endless food, puppy friends, and all the love you gave us and more. You deserve the very best!

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