For Digger, our beloved, deeply mourned golden retriever whom we laid to rest March 9th, 2026. If love could have saved you big guy, you would have lived forever.

Digger lived to be 11 years old, and throughout his long, full life, brought endless joy to so many. He was a warm and friendly presence when no one else was there, the epitome of unconditional love, happiness, and fur on your clothes. Digger first entered my life when I was a teenager, with his then hobbies including eating the furniture to my mother’s disapproval, specifically the coffee table, and playing in the grass in our backyard with our other dogs, many of which have since passed on, and who we know he’s playing with in a much happier, kinder place. He was a welcome friend to our other pets all his life, an energetic member of the pack.

Digger and I grew together through a lot of life events; multiple homes, relationships, new additions to the family, including other fur friends and so many, many other memories. When I would visit home from college, he was there, always so happy to see a familiar face. He loved going on his walks with his pack, loved playing with his tennis balls and fitting multiple in his mouth, and doing what we’d call ‘ostrich-ing’, yes like the bird, where he’d walk and stand in between your legs so you could scratch his butt, head facing behind you. It was his signature greeting, along with many, many licks. What Digger loved, beyond all other activities and friends, was to eat, right up until the end. No matter his condition, he never missed a meal, and it was only fitting that before his passing, I made him an organic ribeye, medium rare, broccolini and whipped cream – a final meal made with no expense spared, the finest ingredients available and a huge helping of love.

Digger passed surrounded by his family, being reassured with pets from many familiar hands, being fed endless treats which he graciously accepted, and hearing countless affirmations of our endless love for him, and all the love he provided to us. In the end, it was not a decision as to whether Digger deserved more, because of course he did, but whether his loved ones could give him a kinder, less stressful ending than the cancer could. He was not just a pet, but a cherished member of our family, who will never, ever be forgotten. I hope that if you’ve stumbled across Digger’s memorial here, and you’ve read this far, that it compels you to show the same intensity of love to yourself, to all living creatures and the planet around us that Digger showed to us. To those running this page, thank you for creating a space for so many owners to post their stories; it is proof we are all not as different as we’re led to believe. Lastly, my accompanying donation with this post serves as just a fraction of the love Digger gave us, and I hope it helps aid in the care of other goldens in honor of the joy, loyalty, and companionship he brought into our lives.