Daisy left us yesterday.

She fought a diagnosis of cancer, which gave her only 9 months, for over 3 years. She never complained during that time, taking every day in stride. We never saw her as being sickly – she never showed us that.

Daisy was not the in your face kind, pestering you for attention, she was happy being part of the pack. Always ready for a belly rub (from anyone, anytime), a walk or a treat. Every person she met she met with kindness and the expectation of a good belly rub or two. Daisy would whine when she saw another dog, wanting to get acquainted. Not a mean bone in her body.

The skinny girl, who we never thought would put on any weight, finally did after many years. Not that she ever lacked an appetite, for anything, proving that, to a beagle, anything might be edible. You never know. “Don’t call me late for dinner “– and of course everyone’s bowl needed to be polished just in case it was not truly empty.

She came up from the south with Frankie (Norton) as a pair. Having been stuck with Norton, whose outsized personality dominated, she found ways to compensate; Daisy knew Norton’s weak points. Daily would steal his favorite toys and bury them in the yard. She was sneaky, stealing them when his back was turned. You could tell she enjoyed doing this by the gleam in her eyes as she snuck out the door with the toy in her mouth.

And that is the way I choose to remember her, with Norton’s toy in her mouth and giving me a sly look in the eye as she slips out the door.

Love you always Daisy.