Cooper Ray Palisch
Cooper Ray Palisch
04/18/2015 – 09/17/2025
My heart is broken beyond words early this morning. Just hours ago, my sweet boy Cooper Ray Palisch—my oldest corgi, my constant—took his last breath. He slipped away quietly in bed, surrounded by his siblings, the ones he loved and nurtured. Even in his final moment, Cooper showed the same grace he carried through his whole life—no drama, no noise, just peace.
Cooper was more than a dog. He was my child, my companion, my steady heartbeat through some of life’s toughest storms. Known affectionately as “Coop,” “Coopie,” and “Cooper Duper,” he was a big boy with an even bigger heart. He leaves behind his sister Willow and brothers Mogwai, Winston, and Baxter, who are already searching for him tonight. And somewhere beyond our sight, I know his big sister Abby was waiting to greet him, her tail wagging furiously as they’re reunited.
Cooper’s personality was pure joy. He was always happy, always jovial, always ready to accept anyone I brought into our home without jealousy or hesitation. He had a way of making room—for new siblings, for new friends, for new love. That was his gift: to make everyone feel welcome.
Our pets never stay long enough. They’re only loaned to us for a little while, to teach us about unconditional love and how to be better humans. Cooper taught me to forgive quickly, to love fully, and to appreciate the simple moments—a wagging tail, a shared nap, a playful bark. I will miss his voice echoing through the house, his big brown eyes watching me, his quiet presence beside me on hard days.
Tonight the house feels unbearably quiet. The pack is restless. And I am emotionally spent—depleted in a way that only this kind of loss can bring. The world feels smaller without his joy bouncing through it. But I know this: Cooper’s love isn’t gone. It’s in the paw prints he’s left on my heart, in the way his siblings will carry on his gentle spirit, and in every memory of the life we built together.
Run free, sweet Coop. Find Abby. Chase the wind. Know you were fiercely loved every single day of your life. Thank you for choosing me to be your person. You will never, ever be forgotten. 💔
Cooper’s Letter to Us:
Dear Dad, Willow, Mogwai, Winston, and Baxter,
As I step onto the Rainbow Bridge, the sunlight feels warm beneath my paws, and the air smells like every good day we ever shared. My heart is full—so full it’s almost too big for this little corgi body you always said was “built for snuggles and snacks.”
Dad, from the moment you carried me through the door as a wiggly pup, I knew I was home. You gave me a life bursting with belly rubs, treats slipped under the table, and the soft sound of your laugh whenever I was a goofball. You always told me I was a “big boy with a big heart,” and you were right—because you filled it every single day. You let me be your shadow, your comfort on hard nights, your excuse to pause and breathe when life got loud. Thank you for holding me close even when it hurt, for whispering love into my ears until my last breath, and for giving me the gift of leaving surrounded by my siblings.
Willow, my sassy sister—you were my partner in crime and in quiet. Keep shutting your own kennel door when you’ve had enough of the boys, and keep protecting Dad the way only you can. Mogwai, my steady brother, keep being the gentle soul who watches storms with Dad and reminds him of me when thunder rolls. Winston, oh Winston—keep stealing pizza slices and making everyone laugh (but maybe let Dad eat his dinner once in a while). Baxter, sweet chaos-maker, don’t ever stop spinning with joy—you are proof that life is meant to be lived full-throttle.
Abby found me first. She barreled into me like no time had passed, and we tumbled into the grass, rolling and barking like puppies again. We’re both whole now—no aches, no lung trouble, no slowing down. We’re running through endless fields, chasing butterflies, and waiting for the day when the rest of you come racing over the hill to join us.
I know your hearts ache. Mine does too, leaving you behind. But love doesn’t stop here—it stretches across every distance, even this one. When you feel the breeze stir unexpectedly, or you catch a glimpse of a shadow where I used to nap, or you hear a bark in the distance that sounds just a little too familiar—that’s me. That’s my way of telling you I’m still near.
Dad, please don’t doubt for a second that you were enough. You were my whole world, my favorite human, my safe place. You showed me what unconditional love feels like. You made my life an adventure and a blessing. And one day, when the time is right, I’ll come running to you again, ears flopping, heart leaping, ready to wiggle into your arms.
Until then, hold each other close. Keep laughing, keep loving, and know that I am free, happy, and waiting.
With all my love, forever and always,
Your big boy,
Cooper Duper 🐾🌈
