I’ll never forget the moment I first saw you and was in disbelief you were mine to keep. You were officially a new member of my family. I was only 5 years old but I can never forget how happy you made me and the rest of us. You’ve been there for graduations, proms, fights, cries, parties, leaving for college and pretty much everything else imaginable. You were the smartest one on the block, the cutest, the friendliest, and the most trained. There was no one who didn’t adore you and the feeling of you being mine felt so rewarding. You were my best friend and nothing could ever replace you. As we both got older, you became less playful, and definitely more of a ‘grandpa puppy’ but never stopped being the amazing dog you always were. I turned 18 and left for college in the fall, and he always knew when someone was leaving for a while because the sight of luggage was his biggest pet peeve (pun intended). I finally came home for winter break and of course was welcomed by you running out the front door and jumping around me and it always felt so good to know ya didn’t forget me.

But then the day that I’ve always dreaded came. Getting a call hearing that you had your first seizure was the most heart breaking moment of my life. From that night on, my family and I watched you constantly just to make sure you were okay. The vet said you were fine and it was most likely just old age. I started grasping the fact that I probably didn’t have much more time with you. I spent most of my break hanging out with you and making sure you were safe. When I left I felt guilty looking at your adorable face knowing you were silently begging me to stay.

None of us realized how fast your sickness was spreading and within three weeks you were gone. Out of our lives forever. After watching many of your seizures, having to hold you while you walk, and hand feed you, we just finally couldn’t be selfish and let you suffer anymore. You gave us so many memories, laughs, and pure happiness. You weren’t just a pet to us, you were a member of our family and we will never forget you. It was December 31^st, 2015 when we let you go and I never knew that type of heartache and pain was even real. There isn’t a day that goes by that my family doesn’t think about you and how much of an impact you made on all of us. I cry most of the time when I think of how you’re actually gone but then I think about how much pain you were in and I think of you running around and playing with your toys in heaven. You’re free to do whatever you want and have endless amounts of ‘human food.’ I wish you were still here watching us all grow, and greeting us at the door, and protecting us from the mailman. I will never forget you and I know you’re with us every day.