Celebration of Life: Losing Blitz and the Value of Beautiful Memories

Me with Brita (left) and Blitz (right)

On Thursday, February 5th 2026, I said goodbye to my long time companion Blitz. It is so incredibly difficult to part ways with our animal companions, they mean so much to us and are such an important part of our lives. I have been struggling to keep up with regular life activities in the wake of losing him.

Through the dark times and the pain and grief of losing Blitz, I have found comfort in cherishing the good times that I had with him. It's easy to focus on the bad moments and the sadness that follows their departure. It's so important to remember the fun times and the love that you shared while they were here- and the love that remains even after they are gone.

I wanted to write this blog post to reflect on Blitz's life, and discuss the value that beautiful memories and photos have.

Remembering Blitz (2014-2026)

When I walked into the humane society the day I adopted Blitz, I had full intentions of bringing home a dog that LOVED toys. I had dreams of competing in agility with my rescue dog, and wanted a dog who would be willing to put in the work and training hours using a toy as a primary motivator. I remember asking the staff where "DJ" was, and they said he was out in the play yard with his dog friends. They brought him to me so I could hang out with him one-on-one to decide if he was a good fit.

I brought out the rope I had brought with me, and guess what? He didn't care at all about the toy. But I knew in those moments that I loved him anyway, and despite his lack of interest in the toy he came home with me that day.

We still went on to do some agility, he was my first sport dog. We never competed as the trial environment would have been too much for him to handle, but he had so much fun during his agility classes and at home when we would practice. He showed me that you don't have to be "good" to have fun doing something.

Blitz was a silly dog. I always joked that when his time came, an alien would float out of his head and fly back to it's home planet after saying goodbye. He was my little alien dog.

I miss him dearly, and will always remember and love him. I am thankful to have had him in my life and to have had the time with him I did.

The Value of Beautiful Memories

I have many photos of Blitz. He had several sessions with me in the studio throughout his life, after I became a photographer. Of course even the photos taken of him with my phone are valuable, but it is these photos that have that extra spark to them that I am extra thankful for. The photos that capture not just him but the bond that we shared are so special.

I will hold these photos close to my heart as life goes on. Now while the wound is fresh it brings me comfort seeing the love we shared in photos, and as time inevitably passes I will continue to look back on these fond memories and remember the good times I shared with Blitz.

I cannot express enough how valuable having these memories are. It may seem silly in the moment to invest in a photographer to capture your pet, but down the road when they start to age and slow down, you will realize just how important it is to capture the good moments.

I believe that all stages of life are precious. So whether you have a new puppy, a middle-aged dog, or a senior who is nearing the end of their earthly journey- I encourage you to seek out ways to capture their personality and essence. It will be so valuable to you someday.

As always, if you are in/near the Northern Colorado area, I would be happy to work with you to capture some precious memories with your animal companion(s). Reach out any time to learn more.

jordan@atlaspetphotography.com