It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to share with you: Emmett passed away over the weekend. He left peacefully and at home.
(My favorite picture of Emmett ever, 2008.)
His loss has left a hole in our hearts and in our home.
We’re going to take some time to grieve, then I’ll be back to share the story of his life and all the changes he’s wrought in ours. But, for now, I leave you with the quote that I believe sums up his heart and soul:
In a gentle way, you can shake the world. – Mahatma Gandhi.
Sof says
04•25•17 at 9:06 amOh guys, I’m so sorry. My heart aches for your family xo sof and Cash
Valerie Desmet says
04•25•17 at 9:07 amSo sorry to hear this :(. Losing a friend is so painful. Sending you and your family lots of love and hugs.
Erik N. says
04•25•17 at 9:23 amI’m so sorry Maggie. Through your writing I feel like I’ve known Emmett personally. Thank you for sharing his life with us.
Michelle says
04•25•17 at 9:27 amSo sorry Maggie for your loss of Emmett. Thank you for sharing him with all of us. Emmett was loved by all. <3
Amber says
04•25•17 at 9:34 amOh, Maggie. I am utterly heartbroken for you. It was clear what a special soul he was and how very loved he was. You gave him a wonderful, beautiful life and I know he gave you so much joy, love and laughter in return. I, along with many others, will miss his brindleness. Thank you for sharing his life and spirit with us. Hugs and love to you! Run free, dear Emmett.
Vicki says
04•25•17 at 9:35 amOh Maggie – I’m so sorry for your loss. RIP Emmett.
Sherri says
04•25•17 at 9:35 amI am so very sorry for your loss. I have only been following your blog for a short time, but fully understand the pain you’re going through. We lost our English bulldog, Oliver, in September due to a rare illness. He was only five-and-a-half. I still feel the pain every day and have to remind myself– I will gladly go through this pain and grief if it means he is healthy and strong again, over the Rainbow Bridge. Thank you for sharing him with us.
Kathy says
04•25•17 at 9:37 amSo sorry to hear this, Maggie!! There really are no words that can make you feel better. My YaYa and Kimber will run with him. Sending positive energy to you and your family. (((HUGS)))
Alison says
04•25•17 at 9:40 amOh, Maggie. I am so very, very sorry to hear about Emmett. Sending you lots of love, peaceful thoughts and big hugs as you grieve his loss.
Lori says
04•25•17 at 9:56 amSo sorry Maggie. He fought a good fight and had the best human family in the world. Emmett had a good life and a peaceful transition thanks to y’all. Rest in peace Emmett!
Mark Gibson says
04•25•17 at 10:03 amSo very sorry for your loss. I wish you peace and solace.
Cathy says
04•25•17 at 10:05 amTears…just lost mine too. Double empathy for this post.
Roxanne @ Champion of My Heart says
04•25•17 at 10:10 amI’m so very sorry to hear the news about Emmett. You did such a great job taking care of him. Sending much love and support.
Jodi Stone says
04•25•17 at 10:13 amI’m so sorry Maggie. Heaven has gained another angel. Hugs.
Callie, Shadow, and Ducky's Mom says
04•25•17 at 10:26 amOh Maggie, I’m so very sorry. As Jodi said, Heaven has gained another angel. RIP Emmett.
Bren Lee | Pibbles & Me says
04•25•17 at 10:55 amOh no 🙁 . We are so terribly sorry for your loss. Our prayers and thoughts are with you and hope you can find some relief. 🙁
Liliana says
04•25•17 at 11:17 amFrom a Heart that understands, I am so sorry for your loss. Emmet was truly loved. Sending hugs and healing thoughts.
Sharon chick says
04•25•17 at 12:03 pmSo Sorry, that is all ??
Sharon chick says
04•25•17 at 12:05 pmApologies that was meant to show a broken heart emoji but came up as a ?
Elizabeth says
04•25•17 at 12:15 pmOh, good heavens, Maggie, I’m crushed for your loss, and the world’s. Emmett was a beautiful dog and soul who could not have found a more perfect life with you. You did good. I hope you find some peace in that. XOXO
christy says
04•25•17 at 12:31 pmOh Maggie: I’m so sad for your family. This is so heartbreaking and I know a loss of this magnitude takes your breath away. Please let me know if you want to chat eventually about all this and I’m thinking about you. 🙁 ~Christy
Debra says
04•25•17 at 12:34 pmTogether you all fought the good fight and in the end, slipping away surrounded by love, it’s still a “win.” Much love to you and the OMD crew. I think of you all often and Em will always be ‘one of my favorite dogs I never met.’
Jackie Bouchard says
04•25•17 at 1:04 pmOh, I’m so sorry. They are such a huge presence in our lives – of course he’ll leave a hole behind. But he’ll always be with you in your hearts. I hope that sooner than you’d think possible you’ll be able to remember him with more smiles than tears. Sending peaceful thoughts and condolences your way.
Pat says
04•25•17 at 2:06 pmSo very sorry for your loss. Rest In Peace dear, sweet Emmett.
Rebecca says
04•25•17 at 2:51 pmI know words cannot help, but I still want to say I’m sorry. I have loved reading about Emmett and what an amazing dog he is. Thank you for sharing his stories with us!
Mary Haight says
04•25•17 at 4:13 pmI’m so very sorry for the heartbreak of Emmett’s passing. You loved him well, honored his essential dog nature, and went further still to ensure his happiness. There are no words, so I’m sending love and hugs to you and John.
Sandy says
04•25•17 at 5:56 pmi am so so very sorry for your loss of Emmett. please accept my sincerest condolences for your great loss.
Deborah W. says
04•25•17 at 6:53 pmI am so sorry for your loss.
DzDogs says
04•25•17 at 11:19 pmWags and kisses for you and your family during this time. We’re so sorry for your loss.
JC says
04•25•17 at 11:39 pmSending you all the love. ???
GOWRI says
04•26•17 at 12:48 amI am so, so sorry for your loss, Maggie! I know you must be devastated and nothing can make the pain go away. I hope and pray that you have the courage to walk through this dark period and come out healed, if not the same again. You have been such amazing parents to Emmett and he was so loved and cherished through his life. And by chronicling his story here, you have made him immortal.
Take heart and God bless!
Kim says
04•26•17 at 1:29 amMaggie – I am so very sorry for this terrible loss. I remember when Em was first diagnosed with cancer – his chances of living this long were slim to none – you have worked miracles with him and it is a testament to both you and he of the love you had for each other. He lived longer then the vet thought he would but I know that we, as pet parents always hope and pray for a little more time with our furry, four-legged companions even tho in the end, it is what’s best for them that really counts. I am all to familiar with those feelings of loss and emptiness – of the hole that is left in your heart.
I do believe that Emmett is healed and feeling like the young pup again that he once was. I hope that he has now found my Angel Shiloh who left me a little over a year ago and that they are running free through the fields above the clouds in Heaven.
Mom Kim
Jan K says
04•26•17 at 5:29 amOh, Maggie, I’m so very sorry. You did everything you could for him, and more. He knows how much he was loved. Hugs and love to your whole family. RIP sweet, sweet Emmet.
Ashley McCutcheon says
04•26•17 at 9:50 amI’m beyond sorry for your loss. You were all lucky to have one another and to give eachother so much love and memories. Endless love to you, John, Coop, and Newt.
Joanna says
04•26•17 at 9:53 amI am so sorry for your loss and grief. Wishing you and your family love and comfort. Emmett was so lucky to have found such a caring, loving family.
leslie l says
04•26•17 at 10:14 amDear Maggie,
My very deepest condolences on Emmett’s passing.
Every day since he was diagnosed I have been apprehensive to open your post, for fear that it would be THIS post, the one that said that Emmett was gone, and now it’s true.
I am so sorry for your loss.
My heart aches for you and your family, for your loss, and I can feel the huge hole that the passing of his beautiful soul will leave in the hearts of everyone who has known Emmett through your blog.
Just reading about Emmett made me happy.. For a moment, when I saw Emmett’s pictures, I could see what Cole would have looked like as he aged, had he lived beyond his ten years, and it comforted me. I got to ‘know’ Emmett, long-distance, and I know well the depth of your loss : I know that there are no words to make this better.
You can take comfort knowing that you did everything humanly possible for Emmett, and he stayed as long as he could because he loved you so.
He is at peace and with Lucas again; Cooper and Newt will need you now more than ever.
Sending you all peace, love and strength. You are in my prayers.
Leslie
Dawn G says
04•26•17 at 11:00 amMy heart is crushed for all of you. Tears. I am celebrating sweet Emmett’s life by reading through all your fantastic articles on his care, and being awed by all you guys do for your furkids (and I thought *I* went above and beyond! I bow down). I have already given my 2 rescue dogs extra treats and massages, and they’ll get a long leisurely walk and I’ll let them smell as much deer poop as they want to. I am sure Emmett and Lucas are having a BLAST right now running around in doggie heaven — Lucas extra fast with all 4 legs again. Hugs to all, to get through all those awful “firsts”, and to heal the hole.
Chris from Boise says
04•26•17 at 11:47 pmMaggie (and John) – I send warm hugs as you walk with this loss. I agree with Debra’s comment: after so many medical miracles, to slip away at home surrounded by family was a final ‘win’. Thank you for sharing Emmett with us these past many years; it has been an honor to get to know him from afar. You two and Cooper and Newt are in my thoughts and prayers.
Linda Szymoniak says
04•27•17 at 12:53 amOMG, I’m so sorry. Too many special furbabies saying goodbye lately. Take what time you need, but know you – and Emmet – are in my prayers.
Kristen Levine says
04•27•17 at 4:39 pmMaggie, I’m so deeply sorry about Emmett. My heart breaks for you and John. Emmett was among the luckiest dogs ever to have had you as his family.
Love and prayers,
Kristen
Julie says
04•27•17 at 11:22 pmMaggie and John, I smiled every time I saw a picture of you taking sweet Emmett on a “walk” and then out for a delicious burger or sandwich. He was such a lucky boy to have you two as the amazing people he got to spend his life with. It’s never easy to lose a fur baby, and the heartache never goes away – I still miss Cali every single day, but our lives are so much richer because of them. Sending you so much love <3 RIP Emmett.
Forest Poodles says
04•29•17 at 9:52 amNo words to make anything better, but sending positive thoughts your way.
Kristin Avery says
04•29•17 at 5:34 pmI am so very sorry to hear about Emmett and so sorry I’m late with my condolences. The picture is just beautiful and what light he has in his eyes! Sending you all kinds of love and hugs. XOXO
lak says
04•30•17 at 1:58 pmI am truly so sorry for you loss. You all are in my thoughts, that picture is just lovely, his eyes look full of love and mirth. Again, truly truly sorry.
Jessica Shipman | Beagles & Bargains says
05•02•17 at 12:00 pmI am heartbroken for your loss, Maggie. The picture of Emmett is beautiful. It captures his smile so well! Take all the time you need and reach out if there is anything we can do to help. We’ll be thinking of you. <3
Kate says
05•02•17 at 2:59 pmWas just reading your FB post about Violet and so happy for you, but kind of knew no mention of Emmet was not a good sign. Came here to confirm. So sorry to hear the news. He was an inspiration to all of us who deal with cancer in our dogs. One tough old man who brought lots of joy to you and to all of us.
My Dog Store says
05•04•17 at 10:32 pmSo sorry for your loss. Sending love and hugs to your family.