Our Dash Passed Yesterday / What Happened/ Remembering Him - Favorite photos

Our adorable, energetic little Dash passed quickly on Monday, January 19, 2026. For about 1 year we've known his kidneys were weakening, and he wore diapers since November 2025. He also developed cataracts, and over the last month one of them began rupturing. He seemed healthy enough for surgery to remove the eye (that had dead tissue in it), and it was scheduled for 2 days from now, January 22nd. Then the bottom fell out. Today's blog explains what happened and shares some memories. We are reeling from his passing, and find it hard to talk about it, so I'm putting it in writing. 

(One of our favorite pictures of Dash from years ago)

Adopted Dash in 2018

In July 2018, we took in a Foster dog named Dash and we fell in love with him. He was 10 years old and 8 pounds (born in 2008) when we were lucky enough to free him from a kill shelter and adopt him. Our friend Shelley of Dachshund Rescue of North America told us about that little senior Dachshund/Chihuahua mix and we freed him from the Anne Arundel Animal Control Center, Maryland, on July 21, 2018. He was there since June 10, and the shelter ran out of room... so he had to be fostered immediately.  We ADOPTED Dash on Aug. 10, 2018.

(In 2018, Franklin, Dolly, Tyler all welcomed Dash to the family)

About Dash

We nicknamed him "the Chicken" because when he was excited his bark sounded like a chicken clucking. Whenever would go out and come home, we could hear his "clucking" from inside whenever he heard the door opening. His best friend was Tyler. They did everything together. They ate, played, walked, slept together. 

(In 2023, Tyler, Dash and Cody loved going for rides for "Comic book day" and "Dunkin' Donuts lunches)

Dash's Rapid Decline - Tyler Passes 

Since July 29, 2025 when Tyler passed away, Dash grieved deeply. He lost 5 pounds, down from 11.5 pounds. Tyler was his best friend and Dash took it very hard. He followed Tyler everywhere as Dash was losing his sight and Tyler was his "eyes." He played when Tyler played, he walked next to or behind Tyler. He even did agility in the house with Tyler to lead him and guided him on the "find the treat" games. All that ended for Dash on July 29th, 2025 when Tyler passed. 

(Photo: January 2, 2026, Dash sleeping on Tyler's toys, as he's done since Tyler passed. You can see his ruptured eye)

His Rupturing Eye 

On January 7, 2026 Dash wasn't eating his wet food, or his morning fresh chicken. We went to the vet that night with him because his right eye was filling with blood. On January 15, we were finally able to get a canine opthlamologist appointment. The doctor said the eye needed to be removed, because it already had dead cells in the center. An anesthesiologist checked Dash's heart and lungs and they were good. Surgery was scheduled for January 22, and we were encouraged. We thought once the pain of the eye is gone, he would get back to eating and regain weight. We never foresaw what was coming. 

(Dash on the morning of January 19, 2026)

The Weekend Refusing to Eat

On January 16, 2026, part of his retina peeled off and was causing him discomfort, so we took him back to the Opthlamologist's hospital. The specialist was out until the next week. The ER doctor gave him liquid Gabapentin (not the highest dose), and gave us a prescription to take home. 

That night, Dash ate a full small jar of babyfood, and within 2 hours threw it all up. He refused to drink water or eat. *We think the Gabapentin exacerbated his failing kidneys. 

(Dash and Cody with us at the Vet's office on January 6, 2026, when Dash was still walking and eating baby food)

Over the weekend of January 17-18, no ER had an opthalmologist on duty. So Rob fed Dash with an dropper. Dash refused water and all food. He was fed water and broth. On Sunday, he was still walking around a little outside for a few minutes. But he wasn't able to pee. That told Rob that Dash's kidneys were failing quickly. 

(Photo: On the morning of Jan 19, 2026, Dash lay with Tom in a recliner for comfort.) 

The Morning Shock  

On the morning of January 19, Dash woke Rob up by coughing blood and dripping it out of his nose. Rob called the vet at 8am, and they confirmed what was happening. We wanted Dash to pass at home. Tom looked up kidney failure and learned that was a symptom of the very end stage of life. He had no strength. He couldn't move. 

(Photo: On the morning of Jan 19, 2026, Dash lay with Rob in a recliner for comfort.) 

Giving Him as Much Comfort as Possible

We brought his bed in one room where we stayed with him all morning, holding him. Telling him we are there. We then took him to our den where he fell asleep on each of us as we took turns holding him. His nose continued to bleed the entire time. Rob called the vet again after Dash threw up blood twice. We carried Dash, wrapped in his favorite blue blanket, lying in his favorite bed, into the vet's office. The doctor helped him pass out of pain. It was Brutal. 

Photos of happy times

Following are some of my very favorite pictures of Dash and his adventures over the last year. 

(Photo: Just this past December 2025, Dash enjoyed walking outside in the backyard looking for a patch of grass, walking around in circles even in the snow.)

(Photo: One of Rob's all time Favorite pictures of Dash from Thanksgiving 2025, when he was wearing a bow tie given to him from his uncle Jeff and cousin Myrtle). 

 

(Sept 15, 2025- Cody and Dash enjoyed their walks in the neighborhood.) 

(Sept 13, 2025- below -  Dash loved being driven around Home Depot while sitting in a carriage) 

(Photo:  Tom and I took Cody and Dash to York Beach in August 2025 to watch large waves crashing on shore from a distant hurricane - hundreds of miles away) 

(Photo: Cody and Dash posed for a picture on York Beach in August, 2025) 

Below- One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE pictures of Dash, with his happy, infectious smile.