Grief is hard. It comes in waves. Sometimes, your head is comfortably above water, while other times, you feel as if you might drown. Caesar has been gone for almost two weeks, and I’d like to say it’s gotten easier, but the truth is I don’t think there is anything easy about losing your heart…
Category: Personal
Caesar | 6/11/11-1/26/24
Caesar Barnhart, beloved adventure companion to Kirsten Barnhart, passed away peacefully at home on Jan. 26, 2024, at nearly 13 years old. During his long life, Caesar visited 10 states. He trekked across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, stood under the arches of St. Louis, went face to face with elk and black bear in the Smokies,…
Caesar’s Legacy and the Power of Canine Companionship
TW: This post talks about depression, suicide, and loss. I started this blog in 2019 as a way to share Caesar and my adventures. Over the years, we have gone so many places together and created an unbreakable bond—much of that I have shared here. When I created this blog, I just wanted a place…
What is a heart dog?
What is a heart dog? A heart dog is a part of your soul. They are a dog that you have connected with on an emotional and spiritual level. They are a dog that you’ve grown with and that has helped shape who you are. A heart dog is a dog you can’t imagine living…
12 Years with Caesar: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Watching your Dog Age
Dogs have an incredible ability to bring joy, companionship, and unwavering loyalty into our lives—I’ve seen it with Caesar and Gatsby, as I’m sure you’ve seen it with your dogs. But as they age, I’ve also seen how their needs and behaviors change—in both positive and more difficult ways. This year Caesar and I hit…
My hiatus has come to an end
Losing a dog takes a lot out of you. I haven’t written a post on this blog since last August—almost 7 months ago, and it’s not because I don’t have things to say. I have tons of updates! It’s just—this was the space that I created to share my stories of Caesar and Jeter. My…
Introducing (The Great) Gatsby
I’ve shared this story on my personal page, but now it’s time to share it here. Hang on until the end, because it’s a good one. On Tuesday, Aug. 9, I lost Jeter. Two days later, on Aug. 11 (my birthday), would have been our 10 years together. He was cremated that day. On Aug….
Jeter: May 2012-August 2022
On Aug. 9, 2022, at 9:20 AM, Jeter was put to rest after a battle with hip dysplasia that left him unable to walk or run like he so loved to do. Jeter was the best boy and I’m going to forever miss his cuddles and kisses. No one cuddled like this dog. Since the…
The “What Ifs” and the “Maybes”
It’s been three weeks since Jeter “went down” (that’s what I’m calling it). It’s been some of the hardest three weeks of my life. I have no idea what the right thing to do is. I don’t know if I should keep pushing him or should let him go. I see stories of how long…
Jeter’s Hip Dysplasia
During the past two weeks I’ve had some of my highest highs and lowest lows in over a decade. Since April, Jeter has been struggling with severe hip dysplasia topped with arthritis in his spine. At the end of April, he couldn’t walk for two days, but he recovered and was running around again in…