We are heartbroken to announce that our sweet girl, Daisy Mae, died peacefully Thursday August 6, 2026 at home with us by her side.

Daisy’s journey began November 10, 2014 in Monroe, PA. Four months later, she became my new companion and best friend alongside my rescue, Spike. Between the two of us, we showed her how to play, how to not be afraid of vacuums, and how to snack! Daisy didn’t play traditional fetch. Rather she’d grab a stick for me to throw, would pick it up and run with it, having me chase her. Sometimes allowing me to grab it so she could tug, and then have me throw it again. She loved her chest rubs and had a long standing friendship with Rey, a calico cat, whose company she enjoyed. They would play and bathe each other. Rey would seek her out for naps and rubs.

Daisy’s travels included trips from New Hampshire to Florida and traveling companions Spike, and then Cooper. We were hitting trails, visiting family, and all the while she was reminding me to be present in the moment.

Along the way, she began to help me navigate life through profound loss and grief. We would hit the trail at Ricketts Glen and walk among the waterfalls, enjoying nature at its finest. Daisy always loved going into the stream to get a drink and she never met a fellow hiker with food she didn’t like!

She joined me at work every day making many friends, becoming the unofficial mascot. Daisy would walk the halls with me to see my boss and visit my fellow workers always looking and sniffing for treats! She would get me out of my office, running nose to the ground, searching for the best smells of the day! They usually included rabbits, squirrels, and anything else she found fascinating! Daisy sniffed out a pizza crust that had somehow landed on a branch some six feet high! The incredible nose found it.

Daisy was also with me on my first date with my wife, Michelle. While I believe Cooper won her over, Daisy stole her heart. She was our flower girl/maid of honor/best dog/witness at our wedding in January. She endured the cold and snow with us on a wintry hike to be married at Ricketts Glen. And her paw marks our wedding certificate.

Daisy is sorely missed. We will miss her soulful eyes, placing a gentle paw on our arms to remind us we may have forgotten to share our meal, and how she would rest her chin on our coffee table ensuring we did not forget about her presence for snacks! We have been honored to join her journey and are despondent by its end. While her story has ended, we will continue to tell her tale. I am so thankful for her these past 11+ years and every trail I hit, every step I take, and every adventure I’m on I will carry her with me.

Daisy, we hope you are running with Spike and Cooper, enjoying the woods, sniffing out squirrels, and getting all the treats you deserve! We love you!