Dear Human,
Every day I am with you is the best day of my life. You hold me when I'm scared. You rub my belly when I have a nightmare. You give me human food even though you tell everyone else that I am not allowed to eat human food. You scratch me in my very favorite scratching spot. You don't let the scary little yappy dogs or the cats get me.
You take the mail from the mailman because you know that if you let me do that, we wouldn't have a mailman anymore. I forgive you for giving me baths because you at least know that you owe me a treat after drying me off (and to be honest, I love getting dried off with the towel). I also forgive you for constantly putting peanut butter on top of my muzzle because it just tastes so good that it is very worth it.
Without you, I would be back outside—and not the fun outside where we run around in the grass and play with my ball. I vaguely remember being very wet and very cold before I met you. It's been a very long time, but I'm still thankful for each day I wake up warm and blissful next to you.
Every time I try and eat something that smells good, it makes me sick, so it's probably a good thing that I have you to feed me. No one likes to pet me when I've just rolled around in the mud, so it's probably a good thing that I have you to clean me (oh, how I do love getting petted by strangers).
Although I will admit that I was a bit cautious of the little human you brought home, I'm glad you did. I love it, too. Two little humans might be a bit much, though—I only have so many tails.
I can tell when you're sad, my human, and I can tell when you're angry. I know that when you're sad, you don't like to be with other humans, but I can always make you feel better. You're scary when you get angry. Loud noises are never fun, but I know that if I did something wrong, I just have to look like I'm really sorry and you won't be angry anymore.
I don't have quite as much energy as I used to—I can't always run and run after the ball when you throw it at the park. Relaxing in the sun at your feet has slowly become my favorite thing, though I can't imagine I ever liked it this much as a puppy.
I've noticed you put little white pills in my kibble, but it's OK—your secret is safe with me. It may take me longer to eat because my teeth hurt, but I know when there's medicine in my food!
As I've gotten older, so have you. I think we love each other more now than we ever could have imagined before we met one another, though. Sometimes—when I can't get up right away or it takes me a minute to hear you calling my name—you look sad. It's OK—I'm not going anywhere.
I know that it seems like someday soon I won't be around to comfort you when you're sad or to get you your exercise, but I want you to know that I will always be with you. Always. I love you, my human.
Love, your dog
