26/10/2025
Sulley
Trigger warning if you don’t want to cry keep scrolling.
It’s taken a moment to write this because my heart is too broken to formulate words. Sulley was my dream dog. I always wanted a giant breed and a Newfie seemed like the best option. A cute giant fluff ball and black, always my choice in color. He dropped right into our laps. We weren’t looking for a dog and really had no business getting a dog. We had just moved into our newly finished house, Bayleigh was still a baby, we had no grass and I was rushing home driving an hour everyday to switch with Aaron so he could go to the gym. Life was chaotic and we probably didn't need one more thing to take care of, and even though I am a planner and try to be logical sometimes I just take a leap under the premise that I am sure it will work itself out. I will never forget the day I had a patient tell me her daughter was working at the humane society in Detroit and someone brought in a 2.5 year old Newfie, she knew this was my dream dog, so of course she came to therapy prepared with pictures. So of course I had to go see him. And he was perfect but big. And I convinced Aaron to drive there and go look at him. We had to wait a few days and in that time there were several people who wanted him and they told us they couldn't hold him for us. But I would call and check and people kept deciding against him because he was too big. We all met him and of course Aaron was taken back by his size and he accidentally knocked Bayleigh over. Aaron was worried about getting him and I was mad he was making such a big deal out of it. I figured we will figure it out, why not. So after pouting and being mad about Aaron making such a big deal out of his size and the fact that our yard was a mud pit, he came to his senses and we were on our way home with the biggest dog ever. Grizz hated him which was stressful and unexpected. The first and the only time I think I have heard Grizz growl. We gave him a name change to our favorite giant Disney monster, Sulley. Something very near and dear to our hearts. Sulley was scared of strange things: the stairs, the halls when we first got him home. He even got stuck in our room because he couldn't figure out the turn. He struggled to understand where he would fit with his size. But he quickly worked his way into our hearts. He loved the kids. And would play with them and try to take the basketball, he even popped some of their bigger toy balls, he would try to trip them and eventually Grizz liked him too. He took up so much space. Occupying entire doorways, blocking kitchen drawers and cabinets. Sometimes making it impossible to move around him. People were always taken back by his size and fearful, our very own black bear. But true to the breed, not a mean bone in his body. He was stubborn stereotypical of the breed. Standing and staring at us when he waddled down the road because he was sniffing around and forgot where he was knowing he should come back but didn’t really want to and knowing there was really nothing we could do about it. He also ate everything. If the kids left anything down he surely was going to eat it. He even could take food off of plates from inside the sink without even having his feet leave the ground. He got to the the point he could go upstairs and would sleep on the trundle in the kids room, occupying the entire twin bed. He was horrified of the groomer and the vet. I think PTSD maybe from being left in a similar building. He snored so loud. I could hear him upstairs when he was downstairs and now the house is silent. I could also always hear that big bellowing bark right after Grizz’s shrill high pitched sound he makes when you get home. A bark that faded in volume with age and is now gone. You could also always hear him moving. He sounded like an adult walking around upstairs and when I would be sneaking around the basement I could hear you and I always would think it was the kids and I would hurry and hide gifts or whatever it was I was doing. You also got the opportunity to welcome a baby of your own, Archie. Which, no suprise, was perfectly fine.We only got to have you for about 7.5 years which wasn’t long enough. And I always wished we would’ve had you as a baby because I can imagine how cute and sweet you were. I also thought maybe we could’ve done more about the wonky leg position you always had. And this eventually led to your body failing. It seemed like with time your body literally was crumbling under your size and weight and nothing we tried mattered. I am so sorry we couldn’t fix it or help you more. With this loss I feel this unshakable accountability as your body systems. Except your musculoskeletal system was healthy. I really wish there was more we could do but a lot of your stubbornness made it difficult too. You refused to use a ramp or really be assisted to stand, it was like you would will yourself to the ground. And my advice for people with big dogs or want one, start all those things as puppies so they know what they are and are ok with them as senior dogs. But last week I said goodbye to a best friend and a family member. And I promise you the house seems empty without you. Without stepping over you, without leaning a mile to reach the kitchen sink because you wanted to lay by the vent, silent without your snoring and the sound of your feet getting up or laying down. Weird without searching for you outside because somehow as big and slow and you were it seemed you disappeared in a few seconds. Laying in the yard with you and saying goodbye was one of the harder things I have done so far.
We loved you so much. And I am so sorry we didn’t have more time together. You will always be in our hearts.
We love you Su-Su.
