Polo Peake

We are heartbroken to acknowledge that our beloved Polo is gone. Polo joined our family as a newborn puppy and quickly made his mark on our home. Losing him has been incredibly hard for our family and everyone who knew and loved him.

Polo was an energetic companion, and walking with him felt like an adventure. He was always running, spinning, and barking at everything from visitors to shadows. His "zoomies" were famous—he would run laps in the backyard so frequently that he wore his track into the grass. If barking were a sport, Polo would have been a champion!

Polo was independent, strong-willed, and stubborn. He often "disappeared" and caused us to search everywhere. One memorable day, his aunt, cousins, and our girls spent two hours searching for him, only for our son to return home and find him lounging under his bed. On another crazy searching adventure, someone opened the hall closet and found Polo chilling in a pile of blankets. He was always seemingly unfazed that we were trying to find him.

He was a master food thief. If a plate was within reach, it was fair game—once he started, there was no stopping him. We just hoped he would not get an upset stomach afterward.

Every member of the family shared something special with him.

To Booker IV, Polo was his first best friend—sleeping in his room during childhood and hanging with him whenever he was home from college. To Kayla, he was a spoiled little prince whose mischief she always defended, and whose wants were always met—with a little help from Avery. To Kalli, he was her loyal sidekick; she made sure he ate, took his medicine, and occasionally she made him "dance" on his hind legs (though he was never amused). And with Gabby's help, Kalli helped him break the rules and let him sit on the couch, which he was not allowed to do. Booker III was his early-morning partner, and he spent his quiet time with him every day. Lachaun was his disciplinarian. It was common to hear someone say, "Are you seriously arguing with the dog?" The answer was always: "Yes, if he wants to bark back, we are arguing!"

Polo was not just a pet—he was a cherished family member. His presence was felt not just by us, but by our entire extended family and close friends. Everyone had their "Polo story." Our parents were his grandparents. Our siblings were his aunts and uncles. Our nieces and nephews were his cousins. He had lots of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Polo had a place in every heart. He brought energy, love, and laughter into our lives, and his absence leaves a void that can never be filled.

Polo, we are grateful for the nearly 15 years of joy and love you brought into our lives. We miss your bark, attitude, love, and most of all, presence. You were truly one of a kind, and you will always be in our hearts.