To my pup,

It all started with some innocent online stalking. There were lots of puppies to choose from, but you stuck out with your piercing, crystal blue eyes. Of course, those paired with your enormously puffy coat which caused your legs look like tiny pegs made you and our family an undeniable match. We were instantly hooked.

The next week came your long awaited arrival. Upon picking you up, we were informed that you had been returned three times prior, but we did not let that discourage us. Boy, were we in for a wake up call. First you had managed to chew a hole through your metal cage, clearly not caring about the damage you inflicted to your own gums and teeth. A few days later we came home from school to find our brand new couch, which you had eaten through your cage again to get to, torn to shreds. And to top it all off, it was a weekly occurrence for our neighbors to ring our doorbell and return you when we had no idea how you even escaped in the first place.

Aside from the ruckus, you were an overly kind and accepting being. They say dogs can sense mood changes, and every time I was sick or crying my eyes out, you just knew something was wrong and wouldn’t dare leave my side. As a matter of fact, you’ve always been right there: Every time I’ve gotten ready for a school dance, every Thanksgiving dinner gathering (literally drooling on my leg), and every impromptu slip-n-slide set up in the dead of summer. You’ve caught the most beautiful and destructive moments of our household. You have been caught in the middle of many family feuds and have been by our side when we celebrated personal victories. Many think dogs are just accessories to a family, no, you were part of our family. You got in trouble, just like I did, and praised for doing good, just like I did. We were one in the same.

Throughout the years, there were less crazy stories and visits from the neighbors and more accidents in the house. You could no longer walk on the hardwood floor without falling and had trouble picking yourself back up. I knew you weren’t the same fun-loving companion I grew up with; the physical pain you had clouded some of your best qualities. Someone once told me that when your dog has more bad days than good, that’s when you know it’s time to let go.

I imagine it was peaceful. I imagine it was just like closing your eyes for a long, much-needed nap. Although I never saw the day where you actually caught the squirrel before it scrambled up the tree, I bet you succeed all the time in heaven.

I wish things were different, and that furry friends could live as long as humans do. You didn’t care where I came from, or what I looked like, or how much money I had. You loved me unconditionally and whole-heartedly 24/7, and that’s more than I can say about most humans now. You were always thankful for what you were given and always acted as though you were the luckiest of your kind. If the world was fair, the ones who have the biggest hearts would live the longest. If the world worked like that, you would’ve beaten me by a lifetime. Thanks for being the best, most influential sibling I ever had.