Paws click-clacking on hardwood floors, the warmth of a furry head resting on a lap after a long day of work or the joyful barks welcoming one home: these are the comforts of a four-legged friend.
The average life of a dog is 10 to 13 years according to PetMD, while the lifespan of a human is 73 years, according to Our World in Data. In perspective, a day in the life of a human is a week of a dog’s life. To the owner, the dog’s life is a chapter of the owner’s story, but to the dog, the owner is the whole book.
Spanish 4 teacher Amber Moore’s dog lived for 12 years.
“Reggie was more than my dog; she was home. She was a hug after work, a sniff of ‘I love you’ in the ear and the light that brightened everyone’s day she encountered. She was my best friend and ‘doghter,’” Moore said.
On Jan. 26, 2026, Reggie passed away from thyroid and lung cancer.
“On a warm spring day, Reggie, Mr. Moore and I took a kayak trip out on Back Bay. Reggie was never a big fan of water, baths or swimming for most of her life. Reggie and I shared a kayak while Mr. Moore paddled next to us. Reggie was very excited to be on the water that day,” Moore said. “She really looked like she wanted to swim. Mr. Moore was anxious about letting Reggie jump out and enjoy the water because of snakes. We paddled for half an hour, and Reggie was getting eager to take a dip. I always told Mr. Moore ‘let her live her life.'”
That day, however, Reggie decided to leap off of the kayak into the bay, and she wasn’t a great swimmer.
“Mr. Moore tried to scoop her back into the kayak with his paddle while I hoisted her up by her life jacket. This was ‘no bueno.’ While Mr. Moore freaked out with panic, I was laughing hysterically,” Moore said. “The weight of Reggie being scooped, and pulled halfway into the kayak tipped me out, along with my sunglasses, a pillow and water bottle! I quickly realized the water was only waist deep and lifted Reggie back into the kayak safely.”
To this day, Moore and her husband laugh when they recall this story, and they will forever treasure their sweet Reggie for her “bravery, love and comedic relief.”
During Moore’s Spanish classes, students watched videos of Reggie playing in the sand, eating treats and engaging in other activities to promote conversation in Spanish and introduce new words to students.
“The videos that Sra. Moore shared were enjoyable and brought awe to the classroom environment,” sophomore Zach Chincuanco said.
The first day after her passing, students arrived at Amber Moore’s classroom to give gifts and warm hugs to ease her grief.
“Reggie always made me smile with a heartfelt tail wag and loving hug. After some pretty rough times, Reggie was there through all of it and helped me heal in so many ways,” AP Psychology teacher Mark Moore said.
