Sprocket
A donation was made in memory of Sprocket by Dave McDaniel on Oct 24, 2026.
Sprocket came into our lives following the death of a pup I brought into my marriage. My heart was broken. My husband began looking at local rescues and saw that 2 litters of puppies were being brought to Seattle from a high-kill shelter in Nevada. Two mamas and one daddy made 15 puppies. We decided a mere month after we lost our black lab that we would go "look." We all know what that means!
We had to pick a few puppies from the bios to meet. We actually had our hearts set on Sprocket's sister, and were 3rd in line for her as her coloring seemed to attract a few folks. But when we met her, she was a bit of a loof! Didn't want much to do with us. So the rescue owner asked if we wanted to see "Lonnie." No one had shown interest in him yet. So we said, "sure!" When he was brought out, we were told he was the only one with light eyes! He had these goofy, perky ears, and he was all over us! He most certainly chose us. We said yes pretty quickly and were driving away with our new little buddy to bring home to our yellow lab, Mazzi. Lonnie became Sprocket and Mazzi became mama bear and took to him right away. They became the best of buddies and were inseparable until she passed in 2021 at almost 16.
It took about 6 months to fully bond with Sprocket. I loved him instantly because he was my new puppy, but my heart was still shattered at the sudden, yet also expected loss of our black lab, Caesar. Heart failure. But I now realize that Sprocket healed my heart. We joke that the first half of his life, he was Marley from Marley and Me! Destroyed EVERYTHING! He had to get exercise every single day or he would get bored and do naughty things! But, the chewed couch, window sill, Rx glasses, seatbelts, dry wall, and many other things throughout the years just added to the constant entertainment, albeit sometimes frustrating, that Sprocket brought into our home.
There's been a lot of reflection the past month and a half. And my husband and I realize, especially when looking back at photos and videos, that Sprocket was embedded into every single aspect of our lives. With his big sis, Mazzi, they were our companions on all camping trips, daily walks, swimming in the ocean on the Oregon coast (our happy place), hikes, hanging out in the yard, playing fetch at the dog park, snuggling on the couch, and going for car rides with their heads out the window. Especially after Mazzi passed, and we decided we'd be a single-dog household, Sprocket became even more of our side-kick than he was before! We took him EVERYWHERE. Go out to dinner? Can we eat outside so Sprocket can join?
Now that he's been gone for over a month, and our house has been extremely quiet for over a month (this is the first time my husband and I have been without a dog since we were babies) we really realize how much we've included our dogs in every aspect of our lives possible. There are no regrets. Our dogs are our family members. I find comfort in looking back at pictures and videos because I know Sprocket truly lived life! He loved life. He loved us. I realize that he healed my heart twice. Once when we got him after losing our black lab, Caesar. And again when his big sis, Mazzi passed. He taught me to slow down. A walk together isn't about getting miles or steps in. It isn't about burning calories. He taught me to literally stop and smell the flowers. When he stopped, I stopped. And he taught me to simply take it all in. Breathe it in. Enjoy our time together. Relax. Pay attention to the little things. The sound of the river along our walking trails. The sound of the gravel I walk on. The sound of the birds. The smell of the greenery. The way his ears bounced when he walked. His trot and the bounce of his flufferbutt. The way he'd walk beside me and look up at me with his big smile and signature, floppy ears, simply checking in to make sure his mama was having as good a time as he was. I continue to walk our routes. And miss those bright eyes looking up at me.
I'm finally remembering the good times more often and the memory of the dementia symptoms, arthritis limp, and frailness are fading. Sprocket lived to be almost 14. His birthday is approximately November 19th. And all of his ailments were simply due to age. He lived a good life. He truly LIVED it. But his body and mind were just tired. That is something to feel good about. No illness or unforeseen circumstances took him too soon. Although, with a pet, it's always too soon.... But we're grateful for almost 14 wonderful, joyful, years with the most amazing, loving pup who healed our hearts more than once.
Sprocket. Sprocket Rocket. Procket. Boogers. Boogs. Boogsie. Stinker butt. Tinker butt. Tinks. Sweet boy. Buddy boy. We love you. So, so, so much. We miss you and our hearts are broken. If only there were a way to cure you from old age. You were such a good boy. Always a good boy.
Love, Mommy and daddy
We had to pick a few puppies from the bios to meet. We actually had our hearts set on Sprocket's sister, and were 3rd in line for her as her coloring seemed to attract a few folks. But when we met her, she was a bit of a loof! Didn't want much to do with us. So the rescue owner asked if we wanted to see "Lonnie." No one had shown interest in him yet. So we said, "sure!" When he was brought out, we were told he was the only one with light eyes! He had these goofy, perky ears, and he was all over us! He most certainly chose us. We said yes pretty quickly and were driving away with our new little buddy to bring home to our yellow lab, Mazzi. Lonnie became Sprocket and Mazzi became mama bear and took to him right away. They became the best of buddies and were inseparable until she passed in 2021 at almost 16.
It took about 6 months to fully bond with Sprocket. I loved him instantly because he was my new puppy, but my heart was still shattered at the sudden, yet also expected loss of our black lab, Caesar. Heart failure. But I now realize that Sprocket healed my heart. We joke that the first half of his life, he was Marley from Marley and Me! Destroyed EVERYTHING! He had to get exercise every single day or he would get bored and do naughty things! But, the chewed couch, window sill, Rx glasses, seatbelts, dry wall, and many other things throughout the years just added to the constant entertainment, albeit sometimes frustrating, that Sprocket brought into our home.
There's been a lot of reflection the past month and a half. And my husband and I realize, especially when looking back at photos and videos, that Sprocket was embedded into every single aspect of our lives. With his big sis, Mazzi, they were our companions on all camping trips, daily walks, swimming in the ocean on the Oregon coast (our happy place), hikes, hanging out in the yard, playing fetch at the dog park, snuggling on the couch, and going for car rides with their heads out the window. Especially after Mazzi passed, and we decided we'd be a single-dog household, Sprocket became even more of our side-kick than he was before! We took him EVERYWHERE. Go out to dinner? Can we eat outside so Sprocket can join?
Now that he's been gone for over a month, and our house has been extremely quiet for over a month (this is the first time my husband and I have been without a dog since we were babies) we really realize how much we've included our dogs in every aspect of our lives possible. There are no regrets. Our dogs are our family members. I find comfort in looking back at pictures and videos because I know Sprocket truly lived life! He loved life. He loved us. I realize that he healed my heart twice. Once when we got him after losing our black lab, Caesar. And again when his big sis, Mazzi passed. He taught me to slow down. A walk together isn't about getting miles or steps in. It isn't about burning calories. He taught me to literally stop and smell the flowers. When he stopped, I stopped. And he taught me to simply take it all in. Breathe it in. Enjoy our time together. Relax. Pay attention to the little things. The sound of the river along our walking trails. The sound of the gravel I walk on. The sound of the birds. The smell of the greenery. The way his ears bounced when he walked. His trot and the bounce of his flufferbutt. The way he'd walk beside me and look up at me with his big smile and signature, floppy ears, simply checking in to make sure his mama was having as good a time as he was. I continue to walk our routes. And miss those bright eyes looking up at me.
I'm finally remembering the good times more often and the memory of the dementia symptoms, arthritis limp, and frailness are fading. Sprocket lived to be almost 14. His birthday is approximately November 19th. And all of his ailments were simply due to age. He lived a good life. He truly LIVED it. But his body and mind were just tired. That is something to feel good about. No illness or unforeseen circumstances took him too soon. Although, with a pet, it's always too soon.... But we're grateful for almost 14 wonderful, joyful, years with the most amazing, loving pup who healed our hearts more than once.
Sprocket. Sprocket Rocket. Procket. Boogers. Boogs. Boogsie. Stinker butt. Tinker butt. Tinks. Sweet boy. Buddy boy. We love you. So, so, so much. We miss you and our hearts are broken. If only there were a way to cure you from old age. You were such a good boy. Always a good boy.
Love, Mommy and daddy
