Smudge Berkoff

Our beloved pup, Smudge, was released from this life on December 22, 2022.  He had developed an aggressive tumor on his forelimb, causing him increasing discomfort.  He chose to stay in his kennel as often as he wanted to go outside.  He also began to lose weight, despite him eating well.  We made the decision that his quality of life was decreasing, and to release him.

He is predeceased by his mother, Sofie, who passed away two years ago at the age of 18.  He is survived by his housemates Glaycier, Rue, and Fuzz (dogs), eight housecats, and his littermates: sister Fyji who lives in Florida and brothers Griffyn and Drayak.

He came about this world when his mother’s breeders needed to breed her when her intact branch on the family perished.  She had four pups: three hairless boys and a coated girl (Fyji).  He was initially named Paladyn.  But our daughter noticed baby Smudge had a little white patch (smudge) on the side of his snout.  So that was the source of his name.

My family picked him up and brought him to out new city, San Antonio, TX.  When I finished my contract in Maryland, we moved into an apartment complex that was a great place for dogs.  Walking the neighborhood was one of his and his mom’s favorite activities.  We also found a great dog park in Phil Hardberger Park.  We later moved to another apartment even closer to the dog park, which the pups loved walking to and visiting.  We later bought a home on the far west side of town, which was inconvenient for park visits.  But we now had a yard for his mom, his other housemates, and him to run around, bask, and play in.

On Smudge’s final day, I took him to breakfast at Burger King.  I ordered a Crossandwich meal, but I didn’t really have the appetite to eat.  I decided to give the sandwich to Smudge, who’d settled into the makeshift bed I’d made for him in my back seat.  He greatly enjoyed the sandwich.

We then went to the dog park.  Since walking was difficult for him, I carried him into the park wrapped in a dog blanket.  We sat at the tables there, watching the other dogs play.  I could tell he wanted to play, too, but knew it’d be painful for him.  The other dogs took notice of him, and one by one they came over to acknowledge him.  I then asked a woman who was there with her pup to take a picture of the two of us.

You will be sorely missed, my Smudgie.