Noodles
Date of Passing: 03/27/2026
Message to Noodles: Noodles found his forever home at six years old and settled right in. With his sweet face, his nice doggy smile, and his sassy little personality, he did everything on his own terms and lived life to the fullest. It was hard not to spoil this little long dog! Noodles, thank you for bringing so much joy to your family and so many others in your sixteen years on this earth. Enjoy your time on the other side of the rainbow bridge, you deserve every amazing moment!
Tell us about Noodles: I adopted six-year-old Noodles on Friday November 6, 2015. In many ways, I think the universe was pushing me toward him. I’d developed a sudden, unexpected love of dachshunds a few months earlier, and for whatever reason I decided without hesitation that my first dog would be a dachshund. I scoured PetFinder and was drawn to Noodles’s profile, available for adoption from Reno Ranch in Camden MO.
The morning of November 6, I decided to give them a call to set up a meet-and-greet. I was living in Northland Kansas City MO at the time and working for Missouri Western in Saint Joseph. That afternoon I was supposed to head home to Perryville MO, almost six hours away, so I could spend the weekend celebrating my mom’s birthday. I filled out an application and figured we could have the meet-and-greet when I returned. No one answered when I called, so I left a voicemail. I was content to wait for them to call me back, for a while. Early that afternoon, something told me I needed to call them back right away. This time, his foster mom answered and said he would be picked up along with a few other dogs in a couple hours to be taken to an adoption fair in Excelsior Springs. If I could get there before the pickup with the adoption fee, he could go with me instead. I didn’t even hesitate. I told my boss I was leaving for the afternoon, headed home, grabbed my bags for the weekend, and then headed straight for his foster home.
The moment Noodles and I met, it was clear he had his new forever home. He didn’t seem confused at all as I took him away from his foster home and loaded him up in my car. After a quick stop at PetSmart to load up on food, toys, treats, and essentials, we were on our way to Perryville, and he settled fast asleep and perfectly content in the backseat.
Over the course of the next ten-plus years, I learned I could sum up Noodles’s personality in four words: sassy, stubborn, sweet, and begging. He walked with a bouncy little swish in his step. No one could tell him what to do without a fight. When he had a potty accident or did something he wasn’t supposed to do, he’d give you a sassy little look like, “I’m not sorry.” When he begged too loudly and was sent to another room, he’d let you know what he thought about that, barking on his way out. His pet peeve was snout boops—if you even tried, he’d bark in annoyance. He also didn’t like too many snout kisses, and would crinkle his nose like a grumpy little kid after one too many.
Even with all of that, he was very sweet. For most of his life, he preferred to sleep snuggled up in my bed. After dinner, he enjoyed sitting beside me on the couch watching TV. In the final years of his life, when his eyesight wasn’t as great and he couldn’t jump as well as he used to, he preferred huge plush beds on the floor for sleeping and resting. He liked belly rubs and showed love by giving little kisses and boops with his cold wet nose. He had the softest fur, and even in old age, he was soft and fluffy like a puppy.
Lastly, there was nothing he loved more in life than food. This was the most food-motivated dog I ever met in my life. I have so many videos of him begging, pawing at the food cabinet impatiently, or hopping up and down positively shrieking in delight as I prepared his breakfast or dinner. In his old age, near deaf with stiffer joints and poor eyesight, the begging decreased along with literally singing for his supper, but the enthusiasm remained. Some of his favorite special treats included greenies, chicken nuggets, apples, blueberries, cheese, and whipped cream.
Noodles lived in three states (Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois) and traveled to eight more (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Indiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Michigan, and Wisconsin). He loved to travel in his younger years, especially in places with lots of people. Some highlights for him included sightseeing in Minneapolis, taking the train to Chicago, and strutting around the Legends Outlets in Kansas City. He traveled less as he got older, but always enjoyed taking rides in his little doggy stroller. Because I worked in Residential Life helping oversee college dorms at two campuses (first at Missouri Western State University and then Mizzou), Noodles lived for over five years in on college campuses, and he brought joy to many students and staff. He made appearances at the Missouri Western tutoring center for Halloween in costume. Every time the RAs made new name decorations for the doors of dorm residents, they always made one for “Mr. Noodles” as well. Even when I left res life and moved up north for an academic advising job at Northern Illinois University, people at NIU still took delight in his campus walks and his occasional visits to my office.
In early December 2024, Noodles was diagnosed with stage 2 kidney disease. With prescription food and regular care, he lived happily and comfortably for over a year. In Feb and March of 2026, the disease progressed along with some anemia, and he made it clear he wanted to say goodbye while he could still enjoy the snacks and some of the foods he loved the most in his final days. His last days were filled with love, snuggles, pleasant walks in nice weather, and delicious foods like chicky sticks, apple, watermelon, chicken nuggets, cheeseburger, and whipped cream. In his final moments, he made it clear he was grateful for the decision and ready to go. He’d eaten some whipped cream shortly before Dr. Nicole’s arrival and had been up and moving around some. As soon as Dr. Nicole arrived, I picked him up, allowed him to greet her, and then set him down on his bed, where he quickly curled up and sleepily ate a few bites of cheeseburger. When Dr. Nicole gave the feel-good injection beforehand, she said sometimes they get a burst of energy and want to move, but Noodles just stretched out, ate the rest of his burger, and fell asleep. His passing was very peaceful, with warm goodbyes and “goodnight, sleep tight, see you laters” from his mommy, grandmommy, and Rex. Afterward he was gently tucked into a lovely basket and wrapped in a cozy blanket with the care and respect he deserves. There is so much about Noodles and his big, loving personality that I’ll never forget. He always seemed to tell me “Thank you for the home and the care and the love,” and the feeling is mutual. Noodles, thank you for over ten years of love, laughter, and happiness. Enjoy your time with Guy and Bear on the other side of the rainbow bridge, and know that our spirits will always be close and that we will reunite one day, with even more love and happiness to come.