Heartache is real and deep. An emptiness rests inside my heart, a longing for what once was.

A tiny ball of energy wrapped in fur, Milly entered our lives and quickly captured our hearts. Sensitive to noise and people, she responded more to actions of love than words, embodying a beautiful blend of fierceness and gentleness. An athletic 90 lb Chesapeake Bay Retriever, she thrived in water, deftly retrieving anything we tossed her way. She was in her element in the rivers, lakes, and streams of northern New Mexico and the Texas hill country.

Milly was remarkably human-like, her eyes seemed to pierce my soul. Her presence within our family brought us all comfort and peace. She was very capable of communicating her needs in her way. A lover of food, swimming and cuddling. Happiest with one foot in the water and the other on land, living between two worlds. Her last years were spent at our small ranch, where she roamed freely and swam laps in a sparkling pool we fondly called “Milly’s pool.” She was in heaven.

Sadly her final months were painful, to crippling arthritis and a tumor that made daily movement a challenge. Her love remained fierce, but her body was giving out.

On her final day, she rested in her favorite spot by the garage door. We sat together, watching a gentle rain fall, and somehow we both knew this was our peaceful moment to say goodbye.

The house feels empty now. Her energy is gone.