It’s every child’s dream to get their first dog. The excitement of having a new furry creature living in the house and becoming your life-long friend is something every kid longs to experience. As time passes, the bond between human and canine grows stronger and stronger. When families walk their dogs past your window, your pet will suddenly explode into an alarm of noise at the sight of seeing another of its kind. Depending on your mood, you will either laugh and smile or shut them down with the shout of “hush." Without realizing it, some of the best years of your life pass by and your best friend was there by your side all along.

Years go by and a lot of things happen in life. You turn sixteen, get your license, and begin driving by yourself. Before you know it, it’s time to graduate high school and think about your life continuing elsewhere at college. Pretty soon you are only home for the summers, which means that’s the only time you’ll be with your family and pets for a large amount of time. Then it hits you that your parents and siblings are a lot older than you had remembered them to be in your head. Not only that, but you are suddenly aware that your childhood best friend and dog isn’t doing so well. You know your pet is getting old, but you pray it’s just temporary and that they will get better. Unfortunately, as time will have it, it’s better to let a poor soul go than to keep them around just to be in pain.

This past Tuesday I had to say goodbye to my childhood best friend and pet, Lilly. She had a good, long life and had a couple liters of pups along the way, as well. It appeared that she liked her time looking after her babies. I’m not really sure, but it is said that all dogs go to Heaven. I hope so.

It’s hard at first. You remember certain places around the house where the dog would lie. You look to those places and imagine him or her lying there on the floor, but nothing. You begin to miss all those annoying times of constant barking or begging at the dinner table. At the time, you would wish anything that they would stop. Now, you would give anything for them to be back again. Life might seem a little glum without the presence of that wise old dog, but memories left behind will always bring a smile to your face.

We love and miss you, Lilly. Rest in peace.