He Was That Dog: Chester’s Story

September 7, 2025

He was that dog —that little guy who was so much more than just a dog. He was Chester. But he wasn’t the first. When I met Ray, he had a Chester – that one was an Irish Setter and we loved him fiercely. Decades later we would get another dog and of course in a way that could only be said of Ray, it was a natural to call this little shih tzu terrier, Chester 2.

Ray decided this would be a birthday present to both of us 12 years ago. Officially, he was “my” dog...but very quickly he became our dog. Everyone in the family “had” Chester as their own. But none more than Ray. Still, he held a huge portion of my heart—one that now feels cracked wide open again.

For the past 12 years, he has been with us through so many milestones, and his life story is woven into all of ours. He brought us so much joy, love, comfort and happiness...we are heartbroken to think we will not be seeing him again. He was a companion day and night – he even slept with us—almost everyone in the family had a Chester sleepover. He went on holidays and road trips, walked the neighbourhood with countless different friends and neighbours every day 2x a day since we brought him home – if you even average just 300x2 walks a year – over 12 years that is 7200 walks...that’s a lot! And did I mention he cheered at rugby and football games, and loved going to the playground with all the girls. He would swing on the swings and sometimes even go down the slides and most recently could be found in the bike basket of one little seven-year old girl.

He had the biggest heart for such a little dog, and he truly cared about people. When Travis walked through a major life change, Chester was right there in the middle of it all—sometimes even plunking himself right into the moment. When Jesse moved to the States, he faithfully went the distance on road trips, and every homecoming was greeted with the same excitement as if it were the very first. He cared deeply for Ray, staying by his side until that final step across the threshold—likely the first to sense his illness, and then his constant companion throughout. He spent hours simply sitting with my mom when her health became so limiting. During the pandemic, he was my loyal plus one. In more recent years, he became a best friend to my Colombian neighbour and her sister, picking up Spanish right away he could help her navigate her own grief journey. Chester’s heart and compassion truly knew no bounds.

He loved having those two Uni guys living here and was there to comfort them during injury recovery, always cheering whenever they walked through the door – or if some of their clothing didn’t quite hit the dirty clothes, he loved to nuzzle on in and get their smell all over him.

It is going to be so hard not to have him here. But his suffering with lymphoma had reached a whole new level this summer, and the vet finally said there was nothing more that could be done—he would only continue to deteriorate and he has been suffering. There have been several sleepless nights lately – he has lost significant weight, and his immune system is shot. I wanted to keep hanging on to him, but that was all about me...he is suffering. So, we said our final farewell today.

I know grief is a wily companion, and I imagine the heartbreak will take its toll. But for today, we are choosing JOY—for all that he was and everything he meant to our family and so many more.

The bible says in the book of James that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Thanking the Lord for the gift Chester was to all of us.

-Doris