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Juniper 🐶 Ash & Luna 🐱

@merleandmoonlight

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🎂| Oli 🌈, Juniper 1yr, Luna 3yr, Ash 2yr
🏡| Portland, OR
🏆| @charlotraining

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On August 14th, 2025 our hearts were shattered and ripped from us. After another ER visit three days earlier, we learned about a likely cancer diagnosis and we had to say goodbye way too quickly.

For about four months, Oli was dealing with pneumonia and possible chronic bronchitis that just wasn’t getting better. We had multiple ER visits and treatments just trying to figure out what was wrong and why it wasn’t improving. After a third ER visit to a different vet, they found a mass on his heart surrounded by fluid. Most likely mangiosarcoma. Cancer.

The vet removed about a cup and a half of blood from around his heart. We took him home that night and went back the next day to see if the fluid was filling again quickly or not. We learned it was very minimal, and he was so much better. We made an appointment for that week to see a cardiologist for official diagnosis, hoping that it could maybe be a clot that ruptured, which would have given us about another year with treatment. We had hope that this is what it was.

Unfortunately, Oli never made it to that appointment. His breathing was heavy and he collapsed outside. This time there was about four cups of fluid removed. He stayed overnight at the vet to monitor how quickly fluid would refill. We wanted to take him home and have a bucket list day with him. He declined so rapidly that it made the most sense to say goodbye that next morning.

Oli was only 10 years old and had so much more life in him. We are devastated and feel so empty without his presence. A piece of me died that day.

Oli, I love you so so much, and I’m sorry we couldn’t cure you. You were the best thing to ever happen to me and brought so much light and joy to me and your dad. You were truly the most perfect boy and you are so fucking missed. We love you bud ♥️ 🌈 taken in Portland, Oregon by @merleandmoonlight

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a year ago

Help me get this thing started, mom!
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So nice to go back to the tulip festival this year. We went for sunset but clouds rolled in and there wasn’t much of one. Looks like we have to go back!
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#Aussie #dogsofig #australianshepherd #instagramdogs #pnw #oregon #portland #bestwoof #love #dogsofinstagram #pdx #dog #pnwonderdogs #olitheaussie #blueeyes #tulips #woodenshoetulipfestival #spring taken in Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm by @merleandmoonlight

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5 years ago

We love the fall drinks at @thehumanbean! #ad I get my oat milk pumpkin latte and Oli gets his pup cup. What’s your favorite fall coffee beverage?
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#thehumanbean, #alwaysbeagoodhumanbean by @merleandmoonlight

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4 years ago

Team 🧁 over here! And you know, there’s a cupcake emoji but not a muffin emoji…just saying. Just like Juniper here, I also prefer the cake to the frosting (unless it’s cream cheese frosting)!

@playpetbrands by @merleandmoonlight

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7 days ago

Juniper had a lot of firsts last weekend. First road trip. First Airbnb stay. First hike (I haven’t had the drive to go). First boat ride! As a SDIT, Juniper was able to attend whale watching with me in Vancouver, BC. She did so amazing on the five hour ride. She did get a little antsy towards the end, but still was tasking. She even successfully tasked at dinner afterwards too. She is an adventure loving champ. She got to see some humpback whales and sea lions! Thank you, @princeofwhaleswhalewatching, it was an amazing experience for all of us! 🐋

*Disclaimer* Juniper is training to be a psychiatric service dog to assist me in interruption tasking. This is why she was able to go on the whale watching boat with me. Always check if excursions are dog friendly before bringing your dog. taken in Vancouver, British Columbia by @merleandmoonlight

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20 days ago

We love our @revival rugs! With three cats, a dog and so many client’s dogs boarding here, it’s so important that we have high-quality washable rugs. There are so many amazing styles to choose from! by @merleandmoonlight

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a month ago

Happy release day to The Knave and the Moon by @rmgillig! So excited to dive into this soon and finish Sybil and Rory’s story. And how freaking cute is this little Bartholomew?! Juniper and Luna are very intrigued by his wisdom.

Is this on your TBR? by @merleandmoonlight

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a month ago

One year without you.

How has it been a year? It still feels like yesterday. While simultaneously seeming as it’s been a lifetime since I’ve last kissed your sweet face. Losing you is I think the hardest thing I’ve had to go through in this life so far. None of it was fair. You deserved more time. You were so healthy. Cancer wasn’t supposed to ever find you.

I am so grateful for you, though. You shaped my life in more ways than I ever imagined. You changed the entire trajectory of my career, my priorities and I learned true love and happiness from you. You are my greatest gift.

Thank you for sending Juniper our way. Somehow you knew we would be ok and knew that she was exactly what we needed. I never wanted her to be an only dog at four months old, but that’s what was in the cards I guess. She has been such a light, and has helped me immeasurably in my grief. I am so very glad that she is related to you. It makes it even sweeter.

I will miss you every day for the rest of my life Oli. Thank you for everything you gave me. I am so sorry that I couldn’t give you more. I hope your soul still lives on and that I’ll be able to see you again some day. I love you so much Oliver. ♥️

#grief #dogloss #mybestfriend by @merleandmoonlight

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2 months ago

New library chair! ♥️ I had a queen sized Cordaroy that was also a bed, before this. It was very comfy, but I had no back support and have started having a very tight and stressed neck and shoulders. This chair also goes straight down in the back and could also be a bed! The size is a liiiitle big for this corner, but now there’s so much room for all the fur kids 😍. The ottoman has storage for blankets too!
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What does your reading spot look like? Comment a photo, I’d love to see!

And do you see any of your favorite books or some on your TBR on my shelves? 😊
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Cute Australian puppy on a chair in a library of fantasy and Romantasy books taken in Portland, Oregon by @merleandmoonlight

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3 months ago

Low quality photo, high quality memories.

Juniper and Oli would have been such good friends. She was supposed to be his forever friend for a few years. They only got 6-weeks. I guess it was sort of a good thing that Juni wasn’t bonded to him yet, but I still think they both were cheated in knowing one another. 💔

#fuckcancer #imissyou by @merleandmoonlight

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4 months ago

Pretty girl in red 🌷
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I brought Juniper to her first @woodenshoefarm Tulip Fest this year. A tradition that Oli and I had for nearly a decade.
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The experience was so bittersweet. Within the first 10 minutes in the fields, I had to sit down and cry and mourn Oli. Juniper did her usual thing of staying on my lap, or directly at my side until I regulated once more. She’s always been so in-tuned to my emotions, and I’m so thankful for her. I then spread a small amount of Oliver’s ashes in the fields so he can still attend the festival every year. I wanted to be respectful and not add contamination to the flowers, but felt it was necessary for a part of him to rest there.
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This was also the first time I actually took photos of Juni with my camera. I just couldn’t find the drive or desire to do so until then. I do regret this since I don’t have such nice pictures of Juniper’s adolescence, but grief is really a bitch. However, she was such a photogenic rockstar. Following her Uncle’s steps at being my little model ♥️
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*Disclaimer: Leash was digitally removed in editing. Please ensure you leash your pets in public spaces.
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Aussie dog tulip fields spring Australian shepherd
. taken in Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm by @merleandmoonlight

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5 months ago

#shelfiesunday

Went to go read and found my chair already occupied 🫣

I’m currently reading Kingdom of Claw by @demiwinterswrites! What are you reading right now? taken in Portland, Oregon by @merleandmoonlight

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5 months ago