In memory
They were family
This whole movement started because someone lost a dog and could not put the love down.
Be Like Baxter exists because of grief. In the founder’s own words, building this was “a major way I am dealing with my grief” — the stickers, the writing, all of it. If you are here because you lost someone with four legs, you already understand that sentence.
People will tell you it was “just” a dog, or a cat, or a horse, or a bird who said your name. They mean well. They are also wrong. You did not lose a pet. You lost the one who was happy every single time you walked through the door, without exception, for years.
A few things worth hearing
This is real grief
It can arrive with the same weight as any other loss. You are not being dramatic, and you do not owe anyone an explanation for how hard it landed.
There is no schedule
Some people feel steady in weeks. Some are ambushed a year later by a leash in a drawer. Neither is doing it wrong.
Saying their name helps
Tell the story. Keep the photo up. Grief that gets spoken out loud tends to sit a little lighter than grief kept tidy and private.
If it is heavier than you can carry
This page is a place to be understood, not a substitute for real support. Grief can get tangled up with things that deserve proper care. If you are struggling — especially if you are struggling to keep going — please reach out to a doctor, a counselor, or a crisis line in your country. That is a strong thing to do, not a weak one.