This weekend, on November 19, 2016, my family unexpectedly lost our dog, Elliot. Losing him brought out more emotions in me than I would ever expect. When I lost him, I realized I was losing more than a dog; I was losing a companion, a friend and a family member. I was losing a piece of my childhood, a dog I had had since I was only 7 years old. I was losing my joy of coming home to him on the holidays, and taking him on walks in the summer. Not to be melodramatic, but I really was losing my confidant and best friend.

I think most of us underestimate just how much of an impact a dog can have on our lives. Until they are gone, we do not fully realize this. We do not realize how coming home to them turns our bad days into better ones. We do not realize that they can sense our emotions, that when we are upset or angry they sense it and come closer to us as a way to comfort and protect us. We do not realize how they connect us to other people, how when we are walking down the street with them people cannot help but stop to pet them, asking how old they are or what their name is. We do not realize how we treat them as a part of our family, celebrating their birthdays and featuring them in family Christmas cards.

Once we realize all of this, we experience a great deal of grief and sadness. We wonder if we will ever be happy again not hearing the sound of them waking us up each day, or the sound of them snoring at night. We grieve and wonder if our lives will ever truly be the same.

But while we grieve, we are thankful. We are thankful for the joy our dogs brought us. We are thankful for how they provided us with a friend when we felt like we didn't have friends of our own. We are thankful for how they provided us company when we were home alone sick on a Friday night. Most importantly, we are thankful for how they truly taught us how to love. We are thankful for how they taught us how to care for someone besides ourselves.

I truly believe that once our dogs die, they are our guardian angels. They guide us, protect us, and comfort us even when they are not here. They are always looking over us and are wishing the joy for us that we once gave them. They are giving us this in return for the great life we gave them.

I also trust believe that dogs are extremely intuitive. I believe that my dog waited to pass until my sister and I were both home for Thanksgiving, so we could see him one last time. I believe this was his way of thanking us for the great life we gave him.

So when I am experiencing sadness, I am also extremely thankful for my dog. I know that he is not "just a dog," but is a piece of my life that will stay with me forever.

In loving memory of Elliot Mavromates (March 8, 2005 to November 19, 2016)