Losing a pet is the ultimate pain. As I write this, my little chihuahua, Layla, is sitting next to me, and I can feel that her time is coming. Layla is the reason our company exists. When she was four, she had her first surgery for a luxated patella; two years later, she needed another. We couldn’t find the right product to help her get up and down safely, so Steppy Bed was born.
But this blog isn’t about how our company came to be—it’s about the heartbreak of losing your little baby. As I type, I can barely see through the endless tears streaming down my face. If this is depressing to read, I’m sorry… but right now, this is my truth.
I brought Layla home when she was just five weeks old. Her mother couldn’t produce milk, and the puppies needed to be rehomed quickly. The moment I picked her up, tucked her into my basket, and drove the hour and a half home, I knew she was meant for me. It was fate.
I’ve always been that pet parent who brings their dog everywhere—Home Depot, the office, neighbors’ houses, vacations—anything to let Layla experience as much of the world as she could.
And now, I sit here with her by my side, listening to her breathing grow more labored than it’s been in weeks. She suffers from congestive heart failure, a condition common in small dogs. She was diagnosed around nine years old and has been on medication ever since. And you ask yourself "will I know when it's finally time?"
I’ve spent so much time trying to make deals with God for more time. Sometimes I feel like He hears me; other times I wonder if I’m not a good enough person for my prayers to be answered. She just feels too young. She deserves more time. There are so many more places I wanted her to see. So much more I want to do with her.
I’m not even sure why I’m writing this—maybe just to pour my heart out in hopes it eases the pain. For anyone who has gone through the heartbreak of losing a pet, please remember this: you did good. You gave a soul a loving home. You poured love into the world simply by loving them.
As I sit here with Layla curled beside me, I’m reminded that she is not just the heart of our home—she is the heart of this company. Every product we’ve created, every pet we’ve helped, is because of her. And when her journey here comes to an end, her legacy will continue in every small dog who finds comfort, safety, and independence through what she inspired. My hope is that anyone reading this who has loved and lost a furry family member knows that their love creates ripples—just like Layla’s has. May we carry forward the compassion our pets teach us, and may their memory guide us to keep doing good in their honor. I think of all of our customers, and how we will all one day have to say goodbye to our little babies. Just know, you're not alone.
To Layla, thank you for all the love, all the memories, and for being by best friend. Lilly is in heaven and will be there waiting when you cross the rainbow bridge.
“Pets’ lives are shorter so we can help more of them.”
