June 3, 2026 by Jayne Owens Leave a comment
I haven’t been looking forward to sharing this post, even though I have been preparing for awhile now. Two weeks ago we said goodbye to our beautiful baby girl, Tiara Marie.
To say we are heartbroken would be an understatement. I know that so many of you can relate. And yet, as I’ve taken these days since to mourn, I am filled with so much love, reflecting on so much joy, and feeling so blessed to have been able to be her mamma, her person.
Tiara, or Tia as she was usually referred to, came to us in one of the most frightening and horrific times of our lives. She was born the night that my and my hubby Joe’s son, Josh, was airlifted to the ICU at UW Medical Center in Seattle. The light we felt of her birth that snowy winter night brought us a flicker of hope, a moment of joy in the midst of our deepest fears. Looking back on those times, I was in actual shock… living in a state of despair from Josh’s near death condition, and I was recovering from my own personal surgery, being about a week out post-op myself. Everything was a fog to me, but as Josh began to recover following his surgery and subsequent hospital stay, the thoughts of us coming home from Seattle together as a family, and then adding this precious puppy to our household… I believe we all began to heal and felt some life flowing back to us.
Tia was a gift, in more ways than one. She was offered to us from friends who knew how long I had been longing for a Chihuahua puppy but couldn’t really afford the cost of one. I needed a small dog due to the multiple abominable surgeries I’d had. For me to be able to have a pup on my lap, they had to be light, so my needs were a bit more specific when it came to finding the right fit. Our friends Chihuahua was pregnant, and so they offered us our pick of the litter as a gift. Receiving a text with a photo stating that the puppies had been born just as I was standing in our local hospital’s ICU while Josh was being loaded up by medics for his flight to Seattle… I smiled for the first time in weeks. We didn’t know what the outcome of our son would be, but we knew things were moving forward in his care and that this beautiful puppy was born as a sign that love was sent to us in a physical form that night. Our friends kindness has never been forgotten. Nor has it from the many, many others who stood in the gap for us when we were unable to do so for ourselves.
Tia became our princess. She was friendly to most everyone, but she did have her favorites. She designated me as her person, choosing to always sit with me. She was partial to my mom who lived with us, and she would spend time sitting with her when I wasn’t around. She loved her daddy and Josh too, but as soon as I came in the room, she would jump down and come to my lap. In exchange for accepting her preference, she would tolerate the times I would purchase a new sweater or coat for her. Even then though, her sassy disdain would be apparent on her face. Best of all, she would always snuggle in our bed together at night.
Riding in the car was a favorite pastime, but I believe her eagerness was more centered in the fact of being with me (us) and not left behind as opposed to the actual ride. She did enjoy a pup cup now and then, and even experienced and did well on long rides, including accompanying us for times away at our friend’s cabin where she explored fun excursions to the lake.
Tia had siblings… Rosie our Dachshund, who was small-ish but solid, and weighed more than multiple Tiaras put together, LOL! Rosie was Joe’s baby, and really too heavy for me to love on in my lap. She was the most food oriented dog I’d ever seen, and her favorite time was in the kitchen with Joe while he was cooking, as well as when he placed her dinner bowl down. Then there was Silas. Silas was Josh’s King German Shepherd dog that we inherited, as parents tend to do. After a few years of living together, Tia decided to take on her diva personality. She was a bit snitty to Silas, and he finally had enough and put her in her place. Between the two dogs barking and my frantic screams, Joe assumed world war three had broken out. Two surgeries for Tia and a large vet bill later, Tia acknowledged Silas’ role in the pack and they finally lived together in peace the remainder of their lives. Years after not being able to afford her, Tia was then often referred to as our two thousand dollar “FREE” dog, LOL! But seriously, I would have done anything for her, regardless of the cost.
We lived for quite a few years as a 3 dog household, but eventually we lost Rosie, and then upon losing Silas only a few months after mom passed away, we subsequently made room in our home for Roxie. Joe had said he didn’t want another dog after Silas, as it was just too hard to lose them… he has a very tender heart. But when beautiful Roxie (German Shepherd) desperately needed to be rehomed by Joe’s boss at work, we couldn’t say no (even though Joe did say no the first few times his boss brought it up.) His boss had been persistent as he was moving and unable to take her with them. He had only owned her for a few months before the new job came up and the move happened. He knew she would be able to bond with a new family fairly easily, but was concerned about finding a good home for her, someone he could trust her with. He knew Joe’s love for dogs and that we would provide a good home, and that Joe was very partial to German Shepherds. When Joe finally shared with me about his boss’ offer, I told him that he needed a dog, a big dog… he’s just that kind of guy. So a few months after losing Silas, we made room in our home and our hearts for Roxie.
So the last four years have been filled with Roxie and Tiara, along with regular visits from Josh and his wife’s two doggos. In the midst of a wonderful yard when all the babies played, I watched, knowing that Tia’s time was starting to run short. She had signs of age and slowing down… losing her hearing and then most of her eyesight. The past month has been the hardest.
We were blessed to have Tia with us for 15 years. Not many people are fortunate to have that much time with their special souls. For me personally, she has been my constant companion through the many ups and downs that we have faced. Over the past six years, we lost both of my parents as well as five other family members. Not being a stranger to loss and grief, maybe I was stronger than I would have been otherwise when we (I) made the decision it was Tia’s time. I wasn’t sure I could face losing her in person, but I knew I had to be with her. It was the least I could do after all of the loyalty and love she showed me throughout the years. I held her in my arms as she left this world to cross the rainbow bridge where my mom and dad, as well as Rosie and Silas were waiting for her.
On that day, I told Joe that I didn’t want another one. The pain of old age and loss was too difficult to bear. But even now as I’m writing this, I feel the nudge, the longing to snuggle a little soul… to share our lives together. But it is still too soon. And, as Joe reminded me, we are planning some traveling this year, and know it would not be a good time to leave a little one for an extended period. So, for now, we will remain a one doggie household and not add any more pups to our family. Roxie has more than enough love for us and we are treasuring her. But my mind and my heart will never be far from Tiara. She was and will always remain my baby girl, coming into this world to bring love, joy, happiness and peace to our wounded souls.
So from Joe and I and Roxie, everyone please give your fur babies a kiss and a hug tonight, in honor of Tia and her precious life. Thank you xx
At a Glance... 