Archer the greyhound (2012-2024)

Though this isn't travel-related, it bears sharing here regardless. Archer the greyhound, the hound whose leaps inspired our company name, has passed away at 12.5 years old.

He spent the first three years of his life racing at the last dog track in Florida. When he retired, after a few weeks fostered with a lovely woman named Gail and a nice Rhodesian Ridgeback, he came to our family. Initially anxious, he followed us around, never wanting us out of his sight. Over time, he relaxed and began to thoroughly enjoy his retirement. 

He loved napping in the sun, catching the stuffed toys we tossed to him, getting attention from any people who came to see him (and he assumed any people who came in our house were there to see him), wallowing in mud at the dog park like a water buffalo, and barking at any dogs who had the misfortune to pass by our house. He never quite mastered stairs, and, as such, would leap into our house, skipping the few steps from the patio to the kitchen entirely. We always knew spring had come for good when he took his first outdoor nap on our patio, and in summer, he'd lounge in a kiddie pool (aka The Big Water Dish) after his walks. His morning walks were non-negotiable, and if we dared linger over a cup of tea, he would complain vigorously. In 2023, he lost his back leg due to osteosarcoma, but after he healed, he was right back at it, faster than ever with his adjusted gait.  

His decline was swift, and his passing was peaceful and at home, all of us with him together. It was unquestionably the right time for him to go (but, as all of you who have loved a pet know, it hurts like hell regardless).