The Pawprint She Left on Our Hearts

In Loving Memory of Emma Lou Steg

12/28/2013 – 12/1/2025

I don’t know how to even begin writing this, because my heart is completely broken. Yesterday, We lost our dog. But to call her a dog feels too small, too simple, too ordinary for who she truly was. Emma Lou Steg was my partner. My running companion. Our loyal shadow. Our best friend. She blessed our family, and she blessed this earth in ways only the purest souls can.

Emma came into our lives on December 28th, 2013—this tiny white furball with big timid eyes that seemed to say, “I want my mommy.” From that moment, she became part of our family… and soon, the beating heart of it. She brought with her a level of unconditional love, affection, loyalty, and friendship that humans rarely offer each other.

A Running Partner Like No Other

Back in 2015, before Lenny ever joined us, Emma became my running partner. She knew the routine. The moment I started getting my gear ready, she’d be waiting by the door, barking like, “C’mon, Dad—let’s roll!”

We put in hundreds and hundreds of miles together over the years. Trail after trail. Dawn after dawn. She stayed close, focused, gentle, never concerned with other dogs or distractions. It was just her and me—two souls moving together through the quiet beauty of the mountains.

Those runs changed my life. They bonded us in a way I can’t put into words. She wasn’t just a dog running beside me… she was a companion who understood the rhythm of my soul.

A Family Dog Through and Through

From the moment she settled into our home with Theresa, Rylie, Kayla, and me, she loved being part of our family. She loved the bed—her bed, really—because that is where she felt safest, pressed against the people she loved most.

Emma loved food, treats, swimming in every pool we ever had, and—maybe most of all—riding in the car with the sunroof open. She’d hop onto the console, lift her head to the sky, and let the wind hit her nose like it was the greatest gift the world had to offer.

She was gentle, but protective. Sweet, but strong. A lover by nature, a guardian by instinct.

And when life felt chaotic—when the world outside our walls was full of noise, division, and negativity—Emma was the one who brought us together. She was the calm in the storm. The love that required nothing in return.

Her Bond With Lenny

When Lenny came into our lives, Emma became the older sister he didn’t know he needed. Sure, she was calmer… more grounded… maybe even a little jealous at first. But soon, they became inseparable.

Moving to Sedona in 2020, I took them both on long mountain runs. Watching Emma and Lenny together—two beautiful souls running through red rock trails—was nothing short of life-changing. They were peas and carrots, partners in pure joy.

A Teacher in Fur

Emma taught us everything we humans struggle to learn:

• What unconditional love truly looks like
• What loyalty feels like
• How to slow down
• How to appreciate moments instead of things
• How to show affection without expecting anything back
• How to forgive
• How to be present

Dogs are only with us for a short time, but the lessons they leave behind outlive us all.

Her Final Day

In the last year, we saw her slowing down. Her body breaking down, her runs turning to walks. We knew time was catching her, but we never imagined it would happen so fast.

On December 1st at 4:00 AM, I saw her lying there—alert but distant, staring into space. She never liked her paws or face touched, but that morning… she let me gently lift her chin as I told her I loved her. She looked at me like she was looking straight through me, and in that moment, I knew.

I knew she was saying goodbye.

While I was in Sedona, Theresa rushed her to the emergency hospital. Internal bleeding. Critical condition. I asked if they could keep her awake until I arrived, but she was in too much pain. Surgery and chemo might have given her three more months—but three months of suffering is not love.

I got to FaceTime her. I raced from Sedona to Phoenix to say goodbye in person. When I walked into that room and saw her… it crushed me. My running partner… my loyal companion… the most loving soul I’ve ever known… was slipping away.

It brought me to my knees. I couldn’t hold myself together. Losing Emma Lou hit me harder than anything I have ever experienced.

A Soul Too Pure for This World

If you’ve never experienced the bond between a dog and a human, I implore you to open your heart to it. There is nothing like it. Their love is honest. Their loyalty is unwavering. Their affection asks for nothing in return. Their devotion is unmatched.

Emma Lou left a pawprint on my heart—and on my soul—that will never fade. She made me a better man, a better father, a better human. She taught me love in its purest form.

Our home will never feel the same. The trails will never feel the same. My life will never feel the same.

But I am grateful—so grateful—that God blessed us with her for nearly 12 years.

Goodbye, Sweet Girl

Emma Lou, you blessed our home, our hearts, and this earth.
You changed us.
You loved us without hesitation.
You protected us, comforted us, and taught us what love really means.

We will miss your gentle soul.
We will miss your eyes.
We will miss your excitement when we walked through the door.
We will miss every single part of you.

We love you, Emma Lou. Always. Forever.
Thank you for the pawprint you left on our hearts.

Rest easy, sweet girl.
Run those mountains again.

Emma Lou Steg
12/28/2013 – 12/1/2025
You will be missed dearly.