Honoring Hagrid

Have you ever had a 225-pound dog? Well, I have – and it was quite an experience. Hagrid, my family's English Mastiff, weighed a staggering 225 pounds, but his size was only part of what made him so memorable.

Sadly, Hagrid passed away this past Thursday. So I decided to honor him in this week’s blog post and share some highlights from his life.?

We rescued Hagrid in December 2019. When he first came into our lives, he was malnourished, his fur was patchy, and we estimated he was about two years old. From the moment we brought him home, we focused on getting him healthy.?

Over the next five years, Hagrid was an integral part of our family and his presence was impossible to ignore. He had a larger-than-life personality to match his enormous build. Hagrid loved playing with his toys, snacking on carrots, and barking — very loudly. Even as he grew to over 200 pounds, it was clear he was still a playful puppy at heart.

English Mastiffs are known for their health issues and, sadly, shorter life spans. So, while it wasn’t entirely surprising when Hagrid began to lose his sight a couple of years after we rescued him, it was still difficult to watch. At the time, my family split our time between Washington, NC, and Beaufort, NC, but Hagrid’s blindness had made it increasingly tough for him to climb into the camper top of my dad’s truck. Ultimately, Hagrid could no longer travel back and forth, and this was the catalyst for my family deciding to make Beaufort their full-time home.?

Despite his blindness, Hagrid remained one of the happiest dogs I’ve ever known. He loved basking in the sun, playing whenever he could, and staying as close as possible to anyone around him. His size may have been intimidating, but Hagrid was a gentle, loyal companion and an irreplaceable part of our family.?

Hagrid’s health started to rapidly decline just after I began school this year. When I got the call on Thursday morning, it wasn’t a surprise, but that didn’t make it any easier. I’m especially grateful for the time I spent at home this past summer, giving me the chance to be with him during his final months. Although losing Hagrid has been hard, I know that he lived a full, happy life with us filled with sunbathing, playtime, and of course, plenty of carrots.?

Our family will certainly never forget Hagrid’s tremendous presence and epic personality. He was a pivotal part of our life and although he is no longer with us, he will never be forgotten. We love you always, Hagrid!