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Ernie Ozar, 2003-2018

5 years ago
dog, Ernie, personal
27 Comments

Our rescued mini Schnauzer mix, Ernie, passed away last night.

She was diagnosed with cancer last year, but she was blessed with a great quality of life right up til the end.

Ernestina
On car trips, she brought her big bed with her
Sunning herself in the afternoons on the couch
She was so patient, letting us put her in all kinds of photo poses
Wonderful traveler. Just liked to sit and people watch.
In what we called her condo – her under-seat airplane bag, en route to the airport
She was a surprisingly good driver
We got to watch her gray with age
Waiting for Santa
Coming back from the hair salon, evidently en route to the prairie
No judging
“Please speak to my agent”

Dressed up for Halloween back before she went gray

She’s now Urnie. (We’ve been laughing about that joke for quite some time now. We are terrible people.)

dog, Ernie, personal
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27 Comments. Leave new

  • Andy Hogg
    January 18, 2018 5:08 am

    Brent, I am so very sorry to hear of your loss. Dogs really do become part of our family and part of our lives.
    We love them as much as (or more than) any person, so when we lose them, it is devastating.
    I hope that in time you’ll find it in your heart to stop by the pound one day and give a good home to another dog.

    Reply
    • Brent
      January 18, 2018 6:11 am

      Thanks sir, I appreciate the kind words.

      Reply
  • David Stokes
    January 18, 2018 6:17 am

    Hey Brent and Erika, Very sorry for your loss. Ernie was a SQL Celebrity in her own right (with your help of course) She would have approved of the “urnie” reference, I’m sure!

    Reply
    • Brent
      January 18, 2018 6:55 am

      Thanks man. Yeah, that humor was right up her alley, heh.

      Reply
  • Kevin Hill
    January 18, 2018 6:47 am

    Very kind of her to let you be her people all these years. Urnie…that’s just horrible and hilarious…:)

    Reply
    • Brent
      January 18, 2018 6:56 am

      Kevin – heh heh heh, thanks.

      Reply
  • Peter Shire
    January 18, 2018 6:49 am

    My condolences on your loss. Thanks for sharing so much of her life with the #SQLfamily. I always enjoyed seeing her photo from an early morning walk around Chicago. She lived an epic life in your care. All the best – Peter

    Reply
    • Brent
      January 18, 2018 6:55 am

      Awww, thanks Peter.

      Reply
  • diligentdba
    January 18, 2018 6:51 am

    You made me laugh with that last line!! She was enjoyed by many of us….Thanks for sharing and condolences on the loss.

    Reply
    • Brent
      January 18, 2018 6:56 am

      Thanks, Mal!

      Reply
  • Steve
    January 18, 2018 9:09 am

    Sorry for your loss.

    Reply
  • way0utwest
    January 18, 2018 11:23 am

    My condolences, that always sucks. We’ve had to put down our share of animals and I suspect we’ll lose a dog this year. Always a sad time, but hope you’ve got great memories.

    Reply
  • Anne Hills
    January 18, 2018 12:01 pm

    So sorry Brent and Erika. I always loved the pics of Ernie’s adventures. In February a year ago I adopted a rescue puppy and since then have lost 30 pounds taking her for runs almost every day. I’ve had many dogs over the years, and this one is extra special – just such a joy. Ernie seemed like one of those dogs that somehow is more than most. . .

    I hope to hear about a new Ozar doggo soon.

    Anne

    Reply
  • Aaron N. Cutshall
    January 18, 2018 1:24 pm

    Brent, that is indeed a terrible pun (which makes it funnier!). Sorry for your loss. Non-pet owners just don’t understand the impact that pets have on our lives. I do not look forward to the imminent day when we loose ours as a void is left in your heart forever.

    Reply
  • Jake Godi
    January 18, 2018 3:05 pm

    Brent, Sorry for your loss. With our rescue dog Roscoe, it’s sometimes difficult to tell who rescued who. Godspeed Ernie.

    Reply
  • rickwillemain
    January 18, 2018 6:38 pm

    I also am sorry for your pain with his passing. I think he will be up there in the Mega_Cloud patiently waiting for you all to be together again, and no longer in pain.

    Reply
  • Ackim
    January 18, 2018 8:15 pm

    Oh no, sorry to hear this sad news. I feel like we have all gotten to know Ernie through your sharing of pics, posts and stories over the years.

    Reply
  • Steven
    January 19, 2018 9:12 am

    Brent, I’m so sorry to hear this sad news. We went through the same thing last summer, when we had to let our 18-year old Poodle go. Thank you for sharing all the fun photos.

    Reply
    • Brent
      January 19, 2018 3:29 pm

      Steven – 18 years, wow, I can’t even imagine! That’s wonderful that you got so many years with it, though.

      Reply
  • Pam
    January 19, 2018 10:33 am

    I’m so sorry, Brent. I remember her from the Senior DBA class in San Diego last year. She was a really cute little dog, and so obviously loved. My best to you and your wife.

    Reply
    • Brent
      January 19, 2018 3:28 pm

      Thanks, Pam – it was so much fun to bring her along to our training classes.

      Reply
  • Tom Staab
    January 19, 2018 1:15 pm

    So sorry for your loss, Brent. Thanks for sharing her life (and this tribute) with us. She was obviously loved, and that’s the best gift any dog (or person) can hope for. I’m sure it was a mutual gift.

    Reply
    • Brent
      January 19, 2018 3:28 pm

      Thanks for the kind words, everybody.

      Reply
  • Alastair
    January 21, 2018 3:56 am

    I feel for you Brent, I’m sorry you’re going through this. The photos look amazing and what a little superstar! My family faced a dilemma back on the summer of 2016 and ultimately took the decision to end the suffering of a Jack Russell Terrier we’d had in the family since she was 8 weeks old. 12 years of fantastic memories and as much as it still pains me to see her on pictures, I make a point of doing so regularly. It’s an awful time when you lose a pet you have loved, but the pain doesn’t erase all the good times you had together. If you can look at it that way, it certainly helped me cope, and still does.

    Reply
  • Brandon M.
    January 23, 2018 8:57 am

    Excellent post Brent, and nice work with the bit of levity at the end. If I’m lucky I could probably get my dog to sit still for maybe half of the photos you did, and the pile of toys would be a shredded pile of fluff and stuffing before the camera could focus.

    I’m glad Ernie had such a great family during her time on this tiny spinning rock we all call home.

    Reply
  • 1greatusername
    January 23, 2018 4:33 pm

    So sorry for your loss – I know how much it hurts. It looks like you gave her the very best life a doggo could have. What a wonderful tribute.

    Reply
  • ScottC
    January 26, 2018 6:34 am

    Condolences Brent, been through this and it is never nice. You remember the good times. ;o)

    Reply

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Hi. I’m Brent.

That's me, Brent.

I live in Las Vegas, Nevada. I'm on an epic life quest to have fun and make a difference.

I co-founded Brent Ozar Unlimited to help make your SQL Server go faster. I also maintain sp_Blitz® and the open source First Responder Kit repo.

My current car collection includes a Jaguar XKR-S, Porsche 944 Turbo, Porsche 356 Speedster replica, and a Ferrari 328 GTS.

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