An open letter to my first dog

Trigger buddy,

I will never forget the day we brought you home and you ran out of the car so excited to be at your new home with your orange collar from the humane society and ratty old lease that they gave us, and then the next day I told everyone in my class that I got a new puppy and I was so excited. For the last 11 years you have been my best friend and cuddle buddy. You have been there for everything, good and bad. All my accomplishments. All my hardships. All the laughs. All the drama of life. All the Sunday morning rushing to get ready for church. All my birthdays. Every Christmas morning. Every time I would get home from a date or a night out. You have always been my loyal puppy.

You have your flaws; like when you were younger and would eat my lip gloss or eat my sandwich right off my plate if I wasn't looking. Or the fact that you only listen when you want to, or you are getting food, but despite these flaws you are the best dog any girl could have asked for. You always knew when I needed a cuddle or when I needed your very rare kisses. You were always down for walks and always there to listen to me. I'll never forget the days you would lay by my feet as I did my homework and 'talk' to you about how much I hate math and how stressed out I was. You would just look at me with those big eyes and then lay your head back down on my feet, I knew you were listening and that was your way of telling me that it will be okay.

You're a big mutt, complete with two different color eyes but I am so glad that I get to call you mine. As you are getting old it's getting really hard for me because I know the day is coming where I no longer get to call you my buddy, but I am so glad for all the moments we got to have. Thank you for growing old with me, I'll always love you.