Farewell to Cookie, 2008 – 2023
Updated by Kathryne Taylor on August 6, 2024
I don’t want to tell you this because I don’t want it to be true, but we said goodbye to my beloved Cookie last week. Her smile and spunk lit up my days for over thirteen years and I miss her terribly. Thirteen years! I am the luckiest, and what I would give for more.
Cookie was my sidekick, my frontman, my best friend, my real-life teddy bear, my soul pup. As long as Cookie was there, I was never alone. I can almost feel her snuggled up by my side now. Cookie got me through the darkest of days and brightened the best. She kept me company through countless long days and long nights as we built this website from scratch. She taste tested nearly every recipe, too, whether I wanted her to or not.
In her earlier years, Cookie had a terrifying tendency to shoot out the front door like a rocket, which inspired immense gratitude for every day that we got together. Then she received a terminal cancer diagnosis, lymphoma, and defied the odds by living another two-and-a-half years. I always dreamed of taking care of her in her old age, and that’s what I got to do. Over the past year, she lost her hearing and her health declined, which felt more difficult and complicated than I ever anticipated. She died of old age, and while I’ll always wonder if I made the right decisions every step of the way, I am finding some peace and comfort in knowing that we spent all of her best days together. A dog could not have been more loved.
Cookie came into my life at the perfect moment, when I was fresh out of college and learning to live on my own. She walked with me all the way to marriage and motherhood. She left me exactly where I want to be in my upper thirties, with my loving husband and our baby girl. My heart is so full and so broken at the same time.
Cookie was extraordinary and so was our bond. I spent much of our time together wishing for what I have now, yet I’m feeling so sentimental about our special time together as Cookie and Kate. May this be your gentle reminder to appreciate what you have when you have it.
Thank you for cooking along with us and for finding joy in her antics. I’ll be back soon to share more photos and some of my favorite Cookie memories with you. She was truly the greatest.
Kate, I am so sorry for your loss. From what you write, it seems you provided Cookie with a rich and satisfying life as well, and you should earn comfort from that.
Kindest Regards,
Bill
Kate, so sorry to hear about Cookie’s passing. I love the photos of her in your cookbook and on this blog. She will be well-remembered. Hugs to you and your family.
Oh Kate! Hugs and love, it is never easy saying goodbye to a beloved companion. You were blessed to have spent Cookie’s life with her.
Losing a beloved pet is the saddest thing. Cookie had a wonderful life, thanks to you. Wishing you peace.
We will all miss Cookie… I used to say about our rescues and adoptees : Don’t cry they are gone, smile and laugh they were there in first place.
I am sorry, truly, deeply sorry and saddened by the news. Moist eyes and all that.
Love your posts, enjoy your recipes and of course the sharing of your life is immensely and immediately important to me – all of us.
Enjoy the Rainbow Bridge, Cookie – look for all ours that have crossed!
Thank you!
Dear Kate, I’m so sad for you that Cookie couldn’t stay any longer in your loving family. Sending you all big hugs! Wendy
I’m so sorry Cookie passed! I’ll miss seeing his cute pictures looking at your yummy food.❤️
Sorry, I know Cookie is a girl but I selfishly was thinking of my own dog that I just loss. Peace.
I am so deeply sorry for your loss of your beloved Cookie. I love my pets like my children ,I know what you are going through .Animals love us unconditionally .There is nothing like the love we receive from our pets.
So sorry to hear of your loss Kate and thank you from dog heaven for giving Cookie such a wonderful life, x
Sending love.
I’m so sorry to hear of the loss of your dear Cookie. I can understand how a pet can become such an integral part of your life because I’m sitting here with my 20 year old deaf and nearly blind cat, who has been with me during some major transformational periods in my life. Our pets become as much family as “our peoples”. May Cookie flourish over the Rainbow Bridge. She has provided you and others with many happy memories. Thank you for sharing her with us.
Please don’t ever feel regret. Our pets live great , happy lives and know when it’s time to say goodbye.
You’ll miss her every day, like I miss my Rubi, but remember the happy, silly times. They should never be in pain. Her passing meant it was time.
Peace. Hugs. Smiles.
Dear Kate, I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved partner in crime, Miss Cookie. As a dog mom myself, it was abundantly clear how much you loved her.
I lost two beloved beasts in the past 18 month, my Keiko and Campeon, and now have our boy, Jiro, to keep us company. Jiro is loved beyond reason, but their absence is still surreal.
Sharing this beautiful blog by a favourite writer, in case it can bring you some peace:
https://www.deankoontz.com/dean-on-trixie/
Dear Kate, I am so sorry about the loss of your beloved dog. I am sure it was heaven on earth with you.
Luci
Cookie is probably what attracted me to your website because I am a dog lover. There are many culinary websites competing for attention but I came for Cookie and stayed for your delicious recipes. A bright spot and friend, Cookie will be missed.
So sorry about your loss of Cookie. Thank you for being such a good mom.
Kate: I am truly sorry to hear about Cookie. I had my first dog for 13 years (straight out of college too!) and he was one of a kind. May the memories bring you comfort and happiness in the years to come. Cookie will watch over your family just like my fur babies (Cody, Jade and Chewie) do for my husband and our furry boys. Dogs are the absolute best!!
Love your website!
It is so hard when our friends cross the rainbow bridge. Glad you had so many good years with Cookie. I know you are heart-broken.
So sorry to hear about Cookie. May your memories of her sustain you during this difficult time. What a beautiful tribute you posted to her.
My heart hurts for you, Kate. Your recipes have become integral to my cooking repertoire and I loved getting to know Cookie along the way. May you be comforted in your grief, and may your tears season your dishes with loving memories of Cookie.
Kate, I am so so sorry for the loss of your
Beloved fur baby Cookie…it is indeed a sad time. They are such a big part of your life to lose.
We had a loving kitty for 22 years and I still miss her terribly. My thoughts and prayers to you both❤️
Dear Kate, tears are coursing down my cheeks, having just read about your loss of Cookie. At 74, and a dog lover from the age of two, I have had to let go and say goodbye to many best friends. It never gets easier, and my heart goes out to you. But as many times as I have said, “I can’t do this again, the pain is too great,” I always find another fur baby who needs me as much as I need them. Life is just so rich with a pup in my life, and too empty without them. I am praying for you Kate, for healing of your heart, until you are ready to share your life once more with another soul pup. God bless you and your sweet little family.
Bonnie Arriaga ♥️
Hi Kate
My heart is breaking for you and all who have lost their furry loved ones…always bittersweet with pure love!
Funny thing I bought your book five years ago and just in the last twenty four hours I have been pouring over your posts and recipes wondering how Cookie was doing and then this email “farewell”
Thanks for all your hard work for the best cookbook and for being Cookies’s Mom!!
Lisa
If always makes one appreciate those that we love when we hear stories of other people’s loss. Our animal friends are always dear to us and truly provide us with great joy in our lives.
May the life of Cookie continue to be a happy memory and inspiration for all that you do. Blessings to you and your family.
My sincere condolences. May she rest in peace.
My heartfelt sympathies, Kate. My souldog of only about 5 years died, suddenly, a year ago in January. He had wandered through the automatic doors of the hotel where my husband worked. His fur was matted, he stunk, and he was very quiet. We loved him, walked him, and fed him (from 45# to about 75#) for almost 5 years. We all loved him, but he was my constant during air condition season because neither of us could tolerate the heat. During thunder storms, all 75# of him climbed onto me in my recliner. The last year, he developed a couple of health issues that did have us wondering at what point the vet costs would be too much. We never came to that point. We did not expect him to never come home from his last vet visit. And, still, after 14 months, just saying or thinking his name, Sassquatch brings tears. We all should be lucky to love that much.
Peace to you and your family.
So very sorry about Cookie. As has been said before a puppy brings you the happiest day of your life, yet the saddest day too…
I’m so sorry to read the news of Cookie’s passing. She sounds like she was an extraordinary pal and well loved. Thank you for writing so beautifully about her so that we could glimpse a little bit of her joyful life with you.
Kate, I am so very sorry for the loss of your beloved Cookie. What a beautiful life you two shared. I know she will always be by your side in spirit. Sending you comfort, strength, and peace.
RIP Cookie. God bless you both⚘
*sigh* I’m so sorry. All pet parents know how this is – there are no words. You gave Cookie her best life. Here’s a hug [hug]
I’m so sorry for your loss. Cookie was one of a kind and you are fortunate to have had her. Sending warm hugs to you and your family.
Oh Kate – my heart is heavy for the loss of your precious Cookie; and I cannot thank you enough for sharing this beautiful testimony with all of us. I will be praying for your comfort as you grieve and your joy as you hold tight to the wonderful memories. I fully believe that God does bring our dogs to Heaven to wait for us. Afterall… no one can dismiss what doG spells backwards! More than a coincidence, I am certain. Because no one or any creature loves us as unselfishly and unconditionally as do our dogs – except for the One that created them to model His love.
I am so sorry for your loss. What a beautiful tribute to Cookie!
So very sorry about cookie
I am so sorry to hear this – pups are our real soulmates. Cookie will live in your heart – and those of your followers – forever. Thank you for sharing this. :)
My deepest sympathy for the loss of your best friend Cookie.
i am so sorry about Cookie. i know your heart hurts. i hope you can find comfort in knowing you gave her a beautiful life and and she gave you so much. your post made me cry, again, i am so very sorry.
I am sorry to hear about your well-loved pet, Cookie.
Thanks for sharing. That was a beautiful eulogy.
Big hugs to you for the loss of Cookie. As a veterinarian, I loved that you named your cooking blog after your dog! And she was so adorable. I was worried when I heard of her lymphoma diagnosis, but so glad she responded to treatment. My Toby was diagnosed last May at age 11. Unfortunately he failed several chemo protocols, and we lost him in December. It’s so hard to say goodbye to a great dog that shared your life. Thanks for sharing Cookie with us.
What a beautiful note about what Cookie meant to you. You had me in tears and I can only imagine how difficult it was to write. I’m sending my sincere condolences to you for your loss, but also your win at having her for so long. She sounded like a very special companion indeed.
So sorry to hear this. You have Cookie a great life. Stay strong.
Sending love and empathy. Thank you for reminding us about appreciating what we have.
What a sweet tribute to your faithful companion! I hope all of your good memories are some consolation.
Kate –
When I read your news about Cookie, I teared up. Your recipes are a weekly part of our meal planning and we are always saying, “That Cookie and Kate recipe”…..it will always be that way. What a wonderful and loving companion you had and will always have in your heart. Please accept my sincerest condolences and know all your fans will miss Cookie, too.
I’m so truly sorry for your loss. Our furry family members leave an indelible mark on our hearts. Cookie knew so much love and it sounds like you enriched each others lives in the most beautiful way.
To one Kate from another, hugs! and gratitude. That’s all.
Kate, I’m so sorry to hear this. All my best to you and your family.
Kate, so sorry for the loss of Cookie. What a special friend she was. Thanks also for the reminder on not taking what we have for granted.
Oh Kate, I’m so sorry! My heart goes out to you! Similar to you, I also got a dog after college, who was my faithful companion until he passed at the age of 13 (to lymphoma). My current baby is a precious Maltipoo who will be 11 in August. He successfully recovered from cataract surgery (in one eye), and now has glaucoma, which I treat with eye drops. He has some hearing loss, but other than that, he’s doing good. I can’t bear the thought of losing him. I’m so glad that you have your beautiful family to comfort you. Hearts and hugs!
P.S. I purchased your book in January and am really enjoying it!