It is with broken hearts that we announce our beloved Ryder Mae passed away on May 13, 2026, leaving behind a silence our home will never quite recover from. Born on July 1, 2018, Ryder wasn’t just a dog. She was family, comfort, protection, and unconditional love all wrapped into one beautiful soul.

She was the ultimate daddy’s girl, always waiting for Brandon, following him everywhere, and making sure he was never alone. But when I became pregnant, something in her changed. She became fiercely protective over me, always close by and always watching over our family. In true Ryder fashion, she even started lactating during my pregnancy despite not being pregnant herself, as if she truly believed she was helping prepare for the baby too. It was one of the many things that made her so loving, funny, and unforgettable.

That love only grew when Braxton was born. She adored him in the gentle, patient way only the best dogs can. From waiting under his highchair for the snacks he would secretly toss her, to laying nearby while he played, she loved him like he was her own baby too.

Ryder got along with everyone, people, animals, and strangers alike, but she never hesitated to protect the people she loved most. She was loyal beyond words. She was also wonderfully dramatic, especially anytime Dad left the house. Her papa lovingly called her “Fatty Mae,” a nickname that somehow fit her perfectly and always made us laugh.

One of the hardest parts of losing her is knowing we weren’t home when she passed. There’s a heartbreak in that that words can barely explain. But if love could have kept her here, she would have lived forever. Nearly eight years with her still could never have been enough. She knew every single day how deeply she was loved.

We used to get so frustrated over the dog hair everywhere. On the couch, our clothes, the floors, somehow even floating through the air no matter how much we cleaned. We never imagined that one day, cleaning up the last little pieces of her left behind would feel this heartbreaking. What used to feel like a mess now feels like proof that she was here, loved deeply, and part of every corner of our home.

The paw prints on the floor may fade, but the love she gave this family never will. She was truly the best dog, and there will never be another Ryder Mae.

Forever loved. Forever missed.