A recent spring vacation in Europe with our daughter ended in sadness with the death, back home, of our beloved dog Milo at age 14. He had been gradually failing over the past month, so much so that we considered postponing our trip. (It was the same trip we had already rescheduled a year back after my 96 year-old Mother had a fall, the subject of one of my very first posts here on 35mmc). Our friends who stayed with Milo and our younger dog Ollie assured us they would look after him, and so they did in incredible fashion. His final decline came only as we were in the air approaching JFK; he died peacefully while we were in the taxi from the airport, his body still warm as we arrived.
Grieving a pet is an experience like no other, qualitatively different than the loss of a person, yet tenacious and it its own way profound. Although I have experienced such loss in the past, and have accompanied numerous friends and patients as they’ve grappled with it, I have no special wisdom that allows me to rise above mourning or have any distance from it. Whether for a person or for a pet, grief acts through us. It takes us by hand and leads, bit by painstaking bit. Any notion that we can direct its workings is bound to fall short.
Still, anticipating that his time with us might be limited, I made some portraits of Milo with my Rolleiflex on the eve of our departure for Europe. I found the undeveloped film in a drawer in my darkroom, awaiting processing, the morning after we said goodbye to him.
Like many family pets, Milo has figured in innumerable photographs taken in our house during his lifetime. They show him in the full flush of puppy rambunctiousness; barking protectively as a concerned “brother” as my daughter and her friends plunge madly into the deep end of a pool; festooned with ribbons or a Santa hat on countless birthdays and Christmases.
The image I’ve included here shows Milo in his favorite chair in the relaxed posture that was a constant in his older age. Shot with a close-up adaptor, it is the dreamiest frame on that roll, and—owing to his unruffled, soulful expression (he had no fear of the camera, and seemed instinctively to know what was expected)—it is by far my favorite.
In addition to the scanned image, I’ve made a 10×10 inch print of the photo in the darkroom. It will in due course find a suitable spot in our home.
Thanks for reading.
You can see more of my photos on my website, leica1933.com.
FEATURED IMAGE: Milo Sitting for a Portrait, 2026. Rolleiflex 2.8F, Rolleinar II Close-Up Adaptor, Kodak Tri-X 400 rotary processed with Pyrocat PMK Developer.
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Walter Reumkens on Farewell to a Friend – A One Shot Story
Comment posted: 23/03/2026
It’s the same photo of Milo, but I much prefer the print in the frame, David.
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Comment posted: 23/03/2026
Art Meripol on Farewell to a Friend – A One Shot Story
Comment posted: 23/03/2026
Comment posted: 23/03/2026
Curtis Heikkinen on Farewell to a Friend – A One Shot Story
Comment posted: 23/03/2026
Comment posted: 23/03/2026
Jeffery Luhn on Farewell to a Friend – A One Shot Story
Comment posted: 23/03/2026
So sorry to hear about the loss of Milo. The departure of a pet is in a sad class all its own. Dogs and humans have been friends for at least 30,000 years, often depending upon each other for survival. Even though the conditions and challenges of our environment have radically changed over time, our two species have found ways to deepen the bond.
We lost our dog, Sherlock, in July of 2025. My wife and I agreed that we'd wait a year to get another furry friend, but after a few months we realized what a giant hole was left by her absence. It wasn't healing. Our friend at the Humane Society sent us a picture of a 10-month-old puppy that resembled some photos of Whitefang, a white wolf-looking dog I had owned in my 20's. We went 'just to take a look' and came home with Yuki.
Every dog is different, and every dog is alike. There may be a shared spirit between all dogs, past and present, that manifests itself stronger than the similarities between one person and another. That's my feeling. One day you'll connect with another dog. It won't be Milo, but it will have some of Milo's heart. Some of Milo's desires. Much of Milo's loyalty. Dogs are a gift.
Jeffery
David Pauley on Farewell to a Friend – A One Shot Story
Comment posted: 23/03/2026
Bill Brown on Farewell to a Friend – A One Shot Story
Comment posted: 24/03/2026
Even now as I write this my grief still lingers. She was such a treasure to us and like others have written it is so quiet to come home without her happy barks and elation at my return. One of my photographer friends was kind enough to gift me with a photo session 5 days before her death. I created a beautiful tryptic of us and it resides on the buffet where we display our family photos. Adare at Chewy sent us a card and beautiful little basket of flowers. I dried the flowers and they are displayed with the tryptic.
I'm excited and apprehensive as I await the day when my lab tells me my film is ready to be picked up. Maybe these last photos will help to bring closure to my heart. Hang in there. It does get easier over time but there will always be a special place in your heart for Milo.
That's a beautiful print! Thanks for sharing your story.
Comment posted: 24/03/2026
Comment posted: 24/03/2026
Comment posted: 24/03/2026
Ashish Tamhane on Farewell to a Friend – A One Shot Story
Comment posted: 24/03/2026
Comment posted: 24/03/2026
Scott Peterson on Farewell to a Friend – A One Shot Story
Comment posted: 24/03/2026
Comment posted: 24/03/2026
Dogman on Farewell to a Friend – A One Shot Story
Comment posted: 24/03/2026
Milo shows his sweet disposition in your portrait...it's in his eyes. Those photos, like the memories, will always be with you. I've taken many photos of my current best friend Christie. I've also proudly plastered her photo all over my Flickr account. That's what proud parents do--bore others with photos of the kids.
Comment posted: 24/03/2026
Dogman on Farewell to a Friend – A One Shot Story
Comment posted: 25/03/2026
Comment posted: 25/03/2026
Scott Ferguson on Farewell to a Friend – A One Shot Story
Comment posted: 26/03/2026
As always, great post! I'm sorry for your loss and love how you captured Milo's personality in that terrific photo. Portraits of dogs can be difficult because their faces have so much more depth than people, but you've managed to nail focus in a way that brings out Milo's heart and soul. Very touching and beautiful...
Best,
s
Comment posted: 26/03/2026
Richard Angeloni on Farewell to a Friend – A One Shot Story
Comment posted: 27/03/2026
Comment posted: 27/03/2026