02/25/2026
Clementine
Adopted March 2014 – February 12, 2026
Estimated age 14–18
I’m heartbroken to share that we said goodbye to Clementine two weeks ago.
She had many old-dog issues — arthritis, dementia, adrenal tumors, and incontinence. She declined slowly over the past year, and in some ways that made it harder. The dog we once knew gradually drifted away. We’d get small glimmers of her old self, but they became harder to find.
Clementine had personality from the start. The first night we fostered her, she howled (the only time she ever did), pooped in her crate, and when I panicked and let her out, she spread it all over the apartment. Despite that chaotic beginning, she won us over with her big eyes, long ears, and charm.
She came to us as a rescued puppy mill mom from with a lot of anxiety. At first she only trusted me, but she soon bonded deeply with Florent. Over the years she grew braver and more comfortable, eventually becoming everyone’s favorite at the dog park.
She loved dogs, humans, cheese, and pets. She had that classic basset scent (they smell like rice), which drove other dogs wild — she was often chased for attention. Her perfect day was running on a chilly beach or sleeping in the sun. She loved belly rubs, hugging, and occasionally serving as our ottoman. For a scent hound, she was never particularly good at finding things — and she never helped us solve any crimes.
Thank you to everyone who cared for her and got to see the best versions of her.
I’m thankful for the 12 years we had with Clementine and for the joy she brought to our family, friends, and neighborhood. We went on so many trips together, and she inspired a lot of my photo projects. She even had her own Spotify playlist. We’ll miss you, Clem. I hope there’s plenty of string cheese for you on the other side.
Photo captions: Cloud 7/the beach/Cone of Shame/first holiday card/Audrey’s Farmhouse/Jacob Riis/At Home for Refinery 29/in Fotografiska/Belly rubs/Basset Board Waddle/Paw Print magazine/at home/more belly rubs/Dog-Friendly New York/Holiday card/At Home holiday card/World Animal Day for WeTransfer
