Sugar Miller, age 13.5, (94 in dog years) passed away peacefully at her residence on Friday, October 26, surrounded by her family and comforted by Dr. Leslie Williams. She died on her bed and blanket, next to her human mother's chair, where she felt most content, comfortable, and safe.

Sugar was born on April 8, 2005 in south Mississippi and, when she became of age, relocated to central Mississippi with her new family. She never attended obedience school or received any type of official papers, but was very smart and had a real command of the English language. Among her favorite words were treat, dinner, outside, bird, cat, squirrel, and lizard.

Sugar is preceded in death by her mother, a dachshund from Columbia, MS, and her father, a chihuahua of unknown address. She is survived by her human father, Davis Miller, who fed her at mealtimes and fixed her nighttime bowl of Cheerios and milk. Because of his important role, he was greeted most warmly upon arriving home. Her human mother, Joni Miller, was her closest companion and the one most likely to feed her from the table. They were longtime nap partners and she was often accused as having deemed Sugar as her favorite child. Her sister, Blair, who enjoyed dressing her up in doll clothes as a child, later, spent many hours snuggling and watching Netflix in bed with Sugar. Sugar lovingly recognized her name as Sissy. Her brother, Carson, was the one for whom Sugar felt a caretaking responsibility. She enjoyed when he shared his Pop Tart corners and bits of Nutri-Grain bar and looked forward to their nighttime visits on the front porch. Her brother-in-law, John Samuel, while he got off on a shaky foot, after suffering a couple of warning bites to the leg, soon became part of her very exclusive circle.

Sugar was employed by Miller Security, where she worked as a guard for the family home. She took her job very seriously. She was seen as a threat to the ankles of any stranger, who came lurking around. She had the least tolerance for small children and parcel carrier employees. Anyone entering her home was viewed as a threat to the four people for whom she acted as body guard. Sugar will always be remembered for her dedication to her work.

Her hobbies included chasing lizards, stalking the neighbor's cat, barking at doorbells...the ones in real life and on TV, chasing the UPS man back to his truck, following the smell of bacon, and going on walks down the street with her people. In her later years, these passions were scaled down to fit her physical limitations. They included walking to the mailbox with her Daddy, barking at the UPS man from the porch, and just growling and lunging toward the cat to let him know she could chase him if she chose to. She could still follow the smell of bacon, however, even up to the very end.

Sugar wasn't one for traveling. She liked to visit her grandfather and enjoy the smells of the wide open country and the thrill of chasing squirrels and, every spring, she took a trip across town to Sonic for her birthday dinner. Any unrecognizable road brought on anxiety as suspicions of a vet visit would arise, so she really just preferred staying at home, where she felt most at ease. Sugar didn't have many friends, but that was her choice. She was often misunderstood by outsiders and so she chose to live as a homebody and spend all of her time with her family.

Some of her favorite recent memories came within the last couple of months when her mother helped her corner a lizard in the garage and she was able to slay him like she'd done so many times before in her younger days. It was a special day recapturing the fires of her youth. She also enjoyed the two recent weeks when she spent 24/7 together with her mother, helping her recover from surgery. It just worked out that it was the time when the elderly Sugar needed her best friend to be close and her best friend needed her loyal companion, too. During that time, Sugar grew even more dependent on her mother's presence and left her post, next to her mother's chair, to keep watch next to her bedside, where she continued to sleep every night for the rest of her time here on earth.

Her last day was spent at the lake eating a cheeseburger and barking at the geese. They were frightened and quickly set out into the water, giving Sugar much satisfaction that she could still terrorize water fowl. She also enjoyed a sweet visit from her most adoring neighbor, Miss Kitzi. Sugar was also warmed by special one on one time on the floor with her brother, Carson, before he left for school and work and with an emotional FaceTime visit with her sister, Blair, who needed to say her goodbyes from far away. She enjoyed a delicious cheese omelet for supper.

Sugar will long be remembered by her family for her ferocious loyalty and her unapologetic protective nature. Her family will never be able to express their appreciation for her years of unwavering devotion to them. No one has ever loved them more passionately or defended them more fiercely or adored them more unconditionally. They will sorely miss her enthusiastic greetings upon walking in the door. No matter how much time passes, they will forever long to see her there in that spot waiting on them. What a lonely feeling that will be for them to come home now. It is important to note that Sugar had been with her family for more than half of Davis and Joni's married life. She was there to help raise their children and sat with them as their nest started to empty. She was there for the first day of preschool, birthday parties, beauty reviews, proms, graduations, and packing for college. For a long time to come, their hearts will have a gaping hole that she once filled, but that is the price they are happy to pay for 13 years of her slobbery, unabashed love.

The family asks that everyone make a donation of a Beggin' Strip and belly rub to their dog in Sugar's memory. And a prayer for her heartbroken humans would be greatly appreciated, too. They really need it.