Lily

2011 - 2025

My first dog. My road trip partner. My brave little "Dorkie."

Lily came into my life on June 19, 2015, just as I was starting a new chapter in New Mexico. I was lonely, and a thoughtful colleague (who would one day become my husband) decided I needed a friend. He was right.

A proud "Dorkie" (Yorkie/Dachshund mix), Lily navigated the world with one ear up and one ear down. She was my road trip co-pilot across New Mexico. We shared everything, including pulling over to the side of the road to pee together. We even took on Chicago, where Lily—an "approved" Emotional Support Animal—famously failed her duties by chasing a seeing-eye dog through the airport. She may not have been calm, but she was spirited, and she supported me in ways no official certification could capture.

Lily was fearless. She launched herself off high beds and barked at dogs eight times her size—we often joked she deserved a security guard jacket. Yet, despite this fierce exterior, all the worries of the world weighed on her, manifesting in her anxious habit of sniffing the world in threes (one-two-three, one-two-three). Lily found peace in our family pack with my husband and her partner-in-crime, Dory. She channeled her anxious energy into hard work–digging holes in our yard was a job she took very seriously.

Lily was a genuine little curmudgeon, a grumpy little thing, who chose me and our family to be sweet to. She was there for me when I was anxious, as if she understood firsthand. She was a good sport when I dressed her up in costumes. I’d often catch her kissing her sister, Dory. She also comforted my mom during her final days. Even when apart, my mom held a pillow with Lily’s image to feel close to her.

We love you and miss you, Lily. Your fierce spirit will remain with our pack. Run carefree and dig deep.