Loss and grief are chapters of life we all must go through. Pet loss and grief are, too. For children who do not understand death or have never experienced a pet loss, it can be a very difficult time to navigate through. As children, we often do not realize and can take for granted the actions our parents make to ensure our well-being.
In 2012, my parents made a decision that I will never take for granted. The addition of Hannah, our second dog, to bridge and mitigate the toll of my siblings and my first experience of loss.
For my whole life, my family has had dogs running around. When I was first born, we had one dog, Lucky, a Beagle. Lucky was your typical Beagle. Loud when there was a groundhog in the yard. Sleeping 24/7. The occasional zoomies. Begging for food during family dinners. Most notably, Lucky would run after anything and everything when not on a leash.
Lucky 2012
When he got older, my parents introduced Hannah, also a Beagle, to the mix.
My siblings and I were relatively young when Hannah came along and having not yet experienced an animal loss, Hannah was sort of a buffer to ease my siblings and I after the loss of Lucky.
Now that Hannah is 13 years old, we have learned quite a lot from such a small furry friend. It is Hannah’s world, and we are all just living in it.
Just like any Beagle, she loves to be outside. She loves to lay on the deck or on the grass in the yard for hours. Be careful, though, as she has and very well could take off after rabbits or people. Zoomies, are a rarity, but when they do come out, she zooms crazy.
Hannah 2016
Hannah can sleep anywhere and everywhere. Especially when there is sun. Hannah does not care if you are folding clothes; to her it’s something nice and warm to sleep on. Hannah rarely barks but when she does, you cannot decipher if she’s happy or hurt. Hannah does not care if you are done petting her; she will nudge your hand back on her.
In a rush, you have time to give Hannah a belly rub, obviously. Do not close a bedroom door on Hannah unless you want to hear her cry for 20 minutes or until you let her in. Hannah rarely plays with toys, but when she does watch out, it is HERS!
Hannah 2020
In recent years and with old age, Hannah has become sassier.
If the neighbor’s dog is out or on a walk, she will cross the street and follow. If we are talking to our neighbors on their porch, Hannah will try and successfully enter someone else’s house. If the ground is wet with rain or snow, be prepared for Hannah to take the longest and dryest route back inside. Hannah is also a little bit of a stalker as she likes to get on the couch and watch the neighborhood kids get off the bus in the afternoon.
Make sure to leave a light on when leaving the house at night unless you want a present from an angry and scared Hannah. If there is any place available that she thinks is better than her bed, she will take a nap on it.
Hannah 2016
While these characteristics of Hannah take some getting used to, there is one battle Hannah fought hard for and won – her food!
Recently, Hannah was done with simple kibble. So much so that she would boycott her food for hours or spit and scatter kibble on to the floor. I’ve never seen a dog or a person so set in their ways; she held out for months. Now that my family has given in to her demands, she eats like a queen: Purina wet food mixed with kibble.
But, not so fast. If the kibble is not fully mixed into the wet food, she will not eat it.
In 2021, we added Harper, a Texas Heeler mix (Australian Sheperd and Australian Cattle Dog), to our family.
Hannah and Harper got acquainted fast and became good friends. Hannah’s maternal instincts came through, letting Harper do whatever she wanted. So much so, we would catch Harper sitting on Hannah sometimes.
Hannah and Harper 2021
Now that Hannah has slowed down, Hannah and Harper’s relationship has changed to snuggles and sunbathing. Harper is her own type of crazy and has her own unique characteristics and a whole other blog can be dedicated to her.
While this blog does make Hannah’s characteristics seem like a lot, we are grateful she is ours. Although a lot of her quirks are normal Beagle traits, we known Hannah would never win the title of Best in Show at the National Dog Show Presented by Purina.
As a family, watching the National Dog Show Thanksgiving Day on NBC every year, we are captivated by all the talent, from the handlers to the dogs themselves. Watching the dogs compete with patience, good behavior, andall the qualifications is so fascinating.
And the National Dog Show in mid-November at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center features some 2000 canines and puts into perspective how much our dogs are normal but not necessarily the best of their breeds.
Every year from now on, watching the National Dog Show on NBC will not only impress me but make me think of all the unique characteristics of my dogs.
We love our crazy, dedicated, sleepy dogs. I will never forget the time we had with Lucky, Hannah, and Harper. Pet loss is hard but knowing their lives have been filled with laughter and love is a wonderful feeling. They may never win Best in Show or be the group winner, but they have won our hearts.
The 2026 National Dog Show is scheduled for November 14-15. Tickets can be purchased online on the National Dog Show website beginning in June. If you cannot make it to the Expo Center, NBC airs the two-hour special each year on Thanksgiving Day following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
You will not see my dogs on your TVs Thanksgiving Day, but plenty of talent will be on screen.
I’ll be watching with Hannah and Harper, and we’ll remember Lucky with love in our hearts.
Hannah 2025
Harper 2025
Hannah & Harper 2025