We said goodbye to our sweet boy Blade on September 1 at 2PM. He was the light and joy of our lives and every moment with him was a gift. It has been a month but his presence is still felt so strongly. We truly miss him with all our hearts.

We adopted Blade from a shelter in Redding, Ca. a few days before Christmas 2010. His name at the shelter was Lonesome! Maybe a marketing ploy, maybe not, but he surely seemed sad in that cage. He had been found as a stray. They said that if he had not been adopted, he most likely would have been euthanized the following week. I like to think that he was waiting for us and by some miracle we found each other. His name was changed to Blade that day because of the white lightening mark on his snout and he was Lonesome no more. Blade came home to our little dog Gavin and our cats at the time, Noley and Zachary. He was immediately welcomed into the pack and Gavin and him remained inseparable until Blade’s death. Since Blade’s passing Gavin has noticeably been grieving and we hope time will heal but 13 years of continual togetherness have clearly left a mark on him.

Blade loved his ball, he lit up in the presence of a ball and his intensity was unmatched. He was truly an athletic superstar. He caught the ball in his mouth with ease and man could he run. More than one stranger would make the comment “that dog should play outfield for the Giants!”. He was my running partner and we would run side by side. He loved Golden Gate Park, Stern Grove, Crissy Field, Point Isabel and most of all Fort Funston. So many memories, he loved chasing his ball, running on the beach and swimming in the ocean and the river. Most of all he loved me and Peter, his brother Gavin, and I’m pretty sure he even loved our cat, Nicholas.

We found out Blade had cancer and a bad heart murmur in December 2022 and the doc predicted he maybe had a couple months left, we were blessed with several more than that. Saying goodbye to him on September 1 was brutal but it was time and it was our last gift to him. We are so grateful to A Gentle Rest and Dr. Gorczyca for their kindness and that he passed at home surrounded by the love of his family.

On that last day we spent the morning at his beloved Fort Funston where Blade chased his ball a few more times and got his feet wet in the ocean. He never once dropped his ball until it was time to go back to the car.

I read somewhere recently that having a pet you love as much as we loved Blade, you have many wonderful days and one terrible day. Thank you A Gentle Rest and Dr. Gorczyca for making the terrible day a little easier. Thank you Blade for being the best dog ever and our loyal companion. I know you didn’t want to leave us but we will be ok and you will always be with us. In the sunset, in the waves, in a random wildflower you will be there.
Erik A. & Peter P.