ROGER
July 1, 2015 – May 27, 2026
Roger would have turned 11 years old on July 1st.
Instead, his last day with us was May 27, 2026.
Roger had a difficult life before we met. We don't know every chapter of his story, but we know enough to understand that life wasn't always kind to him. Then, on April 17, 2025, at Alive Rescue just west of our home in Kenosha, Wisconsin, everything changed.
There he was.
The oldest resident.
The smallest resident.
And unknowingly, one of the biggest personalities we would ever meet.
Over the next year, Roger made our lives immeasurably better.
His strength.
His bravery.
His quirky personality.
His happy twirls.
His wonderful little bark.
His wagging tail.
His beautiful inquisitive eyes.
His never-ending search for the next delicious morsel.
His determination to live life completely on his own terms.
Roger taught me more than many people do in a lifetime.
He helped me understand what "small but mighty" really looks like.
He showed me how a strong personality can navigate the world with confidence, courage, curiosity, and absolutely no concern for what anyone else thinks. For such a small dog, Roger carried himself like a giant. He never once considered his size a limitation, and in doing so, he taught me that courage has absolutely nothing to do with stature.
We had the honor and privilege of Roger allowing us to become part of his remarkable "Life of Spin."
His famous three-tooth smile could light up a room. His thick midnight-black coat, highlighted with beautiful iridescent silver strands, seemed to have a mind of its own and went wherever it pleased—just like Roger. Every day was an adventure. Whether he was rolling in the grass, investigating a scent trail, patrolling the yard, or searching endlessly for a forgotten treat, Roger approached life with enthusiasm and purpose.
"The Rog."
"Rogi-Moto."
The nicknames came naturally because Roger quickly became impossible not to love.
He followed me everywhere.
Not some places.
Everywhere.
Roger became my shadow, my companion, and one of my closest friends.
He also quickly became inseparable from his new brother, Scout, our Australian Cattle Dog. Scout seemed to understand immediately that Roger belonged with us. He watched over him with remarkable patience, kindness, and quiet approval. Their bond was genuine, and it was beautiful to witness. Scout loved Roger in a protective way that only another dog can understand.
Every evening brought the same cherished ritual.
I would move Roger's bed next to ours, and only then would he begin preparing for sleep. Before settling in, he would spin in his bed ten, twelve, sometimes more times in a clockwise direction. Then, without fail, he would reverse course and complete the exact same number of rotations in the opposite direction.
Every single night.
The same routine.
The same commitment.
The same Roger.
It was classic.
It was hilarious
It was perfect.
It was Roger.
During Roger's final 48 hours, he spent most of his time resting on my chest. Looking back now, I realize what an extraordinary privilege that was. It was one of the greatest honors of my life to comfort him, care for him, and simply be present with him during those final moments. Those hours were heartbreaking, but they were also a gift. I would not trade a single second of them.
Our lives will never be the same.
I truly believed we had more time.
Perhaps the hardest part is that Roger was only beginning to fully discover who he was, while at the very same time helping me discover things about myself that I will never forget.
He taught me patience.
He taught me gratitude.
He taught me resilience.
He taught me loyalty.
He taught me joy.
And he taught me that courage has absolutely nothing to do with size.
This video captures only a small part of Roger's life with us, but it is only the beginning of his story.
Because this is not a memorial.
It is a biography.
A memorial is about death.
A biography is about a life worth remembering.
Roger earned a biography.
In the months ahead, his story will continue through a book titled ROGER: A Life of Spin and through ROGER CAIRN GEAR, a collection of Cairn Terrier products inspired by the little dog who taught us so much. We searched tirelessly to find products that fit Roger perfectly, and we look forward to sharing those discoveries with fellow Cairn Terrier families around the world through our foundation, Pupdog.org
Roger came into our lives later than we would have liked.
He left sooner than we ever imagined.
But in the time we had together, he gave us more love, laughter, lessons, and memories than we thought possible.
Thank you, Roger.
Thank you for your bravery.
Thank you for your loyalty.
Thank you for every spin, every bark, every wag, every adventure, and every lesson.
Thank you for making our lives better.
We will never forget you.
Neither will Scout.
Run free, little man.
You were loved unconditionally.
XOXO
Greg, Deb & Scout
