Teddy Ballgame, aka Ted, aka Teddy, aka Theodore J. Dog, crossed the rainbow bridge yesterday.

We found Teddy at Petsmart where the Orange County Humane Society was running an adoption event in 2017. One of our senior dogs had recently passed on and the other was really struggling without her partner. So we adopted Teddy. The shelter told us he was six. Our Vet at the time guessed 3.

Ted drew the short straw in the genetic lottery. He was likely the product of a puppy mill dachshund and a puppy mill Jack Russell. He struggled with bad skin allergies, more food and environment allergies than I can count, and he developed thyroid disease, pancreatitis, and Cushing’s disease while a member of our pack. Last week he started vomiting every day, and when we saw the vet last week, she determined he had added kidney disease to his collection of ailments. She also told us there was nothing more to do for him but take him home and spoil him for a few days while we decided. He was deteriorating every day, and getting him to eat was becoming a challenge, so we knew it was time.

The Vet administered a sedative a few minutes before the final shot. I picked him up after the sedetive injective, and he was snoring in my arms 3 minutes later. When the Vet came back in she said he looked so comfortable we were just going to do it right there. So she administered the injection with him sleeping in my arms, and then he just wasn’t breathing. His last memory will be of me picking him up to hold him as he drifted off.

I can only hope my time is that peaceful.

Teddy’s last selfie

Posted on June 18, 2026   #Personal