In Loving Memory of Dexter

"He chose his people, and when he loved you, you knew it."

Dexter—Dex, Buddy Bear, Doo Doo, Mr. Bear—came into the world looking like a bear cub, and he grew into a guardian, a companion, and a love that was as fierce as it was loyal. From the moment we chose each other at the pet store, he became a best friend and a protector. In ways only he could, he became the one who shaped his family’s story: our story.

Dexter had a big heart, but he didn’t give it away easily. Protective, loyal, and loving, he was watchful of his home and wary of strangers, especially men. Men had to work hard to earn Dexter's affection, and that allowed for one particular moment of Dexter's legendary life: the day Dex met the man who would become his dad. Everyone warned him, “Dex doesn’t like people;" yet, on just their second meeting, Dex leapt into the pickup, skipped all the usual suspicion, and licked him right on the face. It became a family joke that Dexter loved him first, and by choosing him, Dex had chosen their family’s future. From that day on, Dad and Dex were determined to be inseparable.

There was so much to know about Dex if you were one of the few lucky enough to be loved by him. He had his rituals and opinions. He was a picky eater, turning his nose up at almost everything except meat—and absolutely refusing what many consider canine gold: peanut butter. Even salty chips were unworthy unless dipped in cheese. He despised fireworks, retreating to the bathtub with a toy, waiting out the noise in his own safe place.

He adored his fur family: Lucy, his beloved sister who passed in 2023, and his younger siblings Frank and Penny, whom he tolerated with patient affection even when they tested his limits. And above all, he adored his mama and his dad—his family was his whole world.

To outsiders, Dex was a vocal and volatile protector: the dog who barked at delivery drivers and guarded his home. But for those inside his tight circle, he was a big, soft loving snuggle bug. Those lucky enough to earn his trust knew the other side of Dex—the one who climbed into laps, pressed his big head into hands, and let his love pour out quietly and completely.

Dexter wasn’t just a dog. He was a friend, a safe place, a steady presence through all of life’s changes. His loyalty shaped a home. His love will be missed every single day.

Rest well, Buddy Bear. You chose your people perfectly.