After 14 years, Tully, our beloved Golden Lab, has taken his final ride.

Tully lived for two things: food and truck rides. And he wasn't about to keep either of those loves to himself. Whenever he hopped into the back of the truck, he seemed to announce to the world, “Hey everybody, I'm riding in a truck!!” His Golden Retriever cohort, Boomer, was right there beside him, spinning in excitement. The two of them stuck their heads out the side of the truck box and took in the world as they helped their people go on grocery store or gas station runs. The neighbors laughed as they heard his distant excited barks get louder as they traveled down the block.

When he was four years old, the non-fur babies came along. His gentle patience with the kids outshined any flaws he may have had. He grew up alongside our kids and was remarkably kind with them, even when they were babies. He especially loved when they would drop food on the ground. “Clean-Up!” was a common command in the house, and the dogs would instantly drop their heads to the ground to seek out the food mess that needed to be cleaned up. That made the grown-ups' lives a little bit easier when handling toddler messes! As they all grew up together, he never growled or nipped, showing a tenderness and trust that made him such a special part of our family.

Tully was a dog with a big heart and a big personality. He was protective of Boomer, his faithful companion, and had a special relationship with the household cats – either harassing them until he got a nice swat to the face, or snuggling with them when they got cold and needed a “warm.”

We’ll miss Tully’s big personality, his love for his family and furry friends, and his endless enthusiasm for truck rides. Rest in peace, dear Tully!