Dogs are known as "Man's Best Friend" which is a true statement. These furry friends are only with us for a short amount of time. In that short time, we learn so much about them and they learn so much about us. I never thought my dog would be my best friend.

She was like a cotton ball who was so tiny when we took her home. She would always follow me around like I was her mom. She only liked to sleep in my bedroom at night opposed to my sisters' rooms. When no one was there to comfort me, she was right there. Every time I would cry, she would be right there with me, howling to let me know that she didn't like to see me sad. We would run around the backyard for hours just playing. In the summer, we had a pond behind our house. Phoebe always felt the need to chase the geese. At some point, she would even go as far as in the pond and my mom would have to clean her up. She was so white and the pond made her green. There was once a skunk and of course, she decided to chase it. Well, the skunk decided to give her a taste of her own medicine and sprayed her. I remember she would just stand on the porch smelling terrible and she would sneeze then look confused as to why she was sneezing. She just smiled through the whole thing.

That is one thing about Phoebe that I will never forget. She actually smiled. She was very content with her life. Everyone loved her and she was full of love. When Phoebe was 10 years old, she was suffering from an enlarged heart condition. This made it hard for her to breathe. On August 12, 2016, I was up in my room at one in the morning because I couldn't sleep. I kept hearing the cough of Phoebe and then my parents leaving. I wasn't sure where they were going. Seven a.m. rolled around and I got a phone call to come to the vet immediately. I knew Phoebe was sick and there was no cure, but what I didn't know was that it would be the last day I would have with her. I have lost a dog before in my life but I was too young to understand it. I walked into the room where Phoebe was kept in a plastic container with an air tank connected to her so she would be getting clean air. I couldn't help but cry the ugliest cry of all. Watching her in so much pain just caused the worst heartache I have ever felt. I sat there with tears rolling down my face and she knew what was going on. We were all bawling our eyes out and you could just see what she was feeling. She was calm and loving. She was letting us know it would be okay. That her time was up.

That was the worst day of my entire life and I knew she was in a better place but going home was the worst feeling of all. Going home to an empty house, not being able to hear little paw prints prance toward you when you walked through the door. Not having anyone in your room at night to keep you company when you were alone. No one to beg for food from you when it came to dinner time. She was my best friend and nothing can fill that gap in my heart that is still empty to this day. Writing this now is still very hard to do. Tears are falling down my eyes and onto my keyboard. She was the best dog our family has ever had. She loved the whole family with her enlarged heart. She will never be forgotten. Losing a dog is the worst feeling you could feel. Letting that little companion go. The short lives they live have to be the best lives they can live. Filled with nothing but love and friendship.