I wasn’t even two years old when I made my first best friend. At the time, walking for me was still a mess of wobbling and tumbling, and speaking in full sentences was basically impossible—but my best friend never judged me for it. Instead, they would stay in patient silence, never once arguing back when I would hug them too tightly or flail them around in the air during playtime.

That’s because my first best friend was a soft, white, “Gund” brand plush dog by the name of “Puppy.”

Puppy was a given to me as a gift from my parents back in 1994, following the birth of my younger sister. In fact, my sister and I were given matching stuffed dogs, both of whom were named “Puppy” (and yet, somehow, my parents were able to distinguish them from each other). I would be lying if I said I could remember the exact moment Puppy was given to me. But I can say that ever since that day, almost 25 years ago, Puppy and I have remained inseparable.

Puppy would come with me just about anywhere I went—my grandparents’ house, my aunts’ house, the doctor’s office—you name it and Puppy was there. I felt like any adventure I would go on, even if it was as simple as walking out to my Grampie’s tomato garden, I wanted my best friend to be right there with me.

Nothing felt as fun without his company.

In times where I would feel afraid or alone, like after a nightmare of being chased by a monster, Puppy was always the first one by my side. No matter the circumstance, he was always willing to offer a cuddly hug to a terrified child. Sleeping at night was impossible without my best friend by my side.

As the years went on though, Puppy began to lose chunks of fur and develop holes pretty much everywhere. This was the result of our constant adventures and hugging sessions. My mom would do everything she could to keep him in one piece, but the more fur he lost the harder it became. Eventually, we resolved that Puppy couldn’t go everywhere with me anymore. Otherwise, he’d turn into a ripped up mess of fabric and stuffing.

Going places without my best friend was difficult at first. It felt like a part of me was missing without Puppy in my arms. But every day when I came home, I could count on Puppy lying patiently in wait for me on my bed. Even though he rarely left the house anymore, he continued to remain the most loyal of friends.

Soon enough, I wasn’t a child anymore.

Middle school and high school brought with it new friends—friends I could actually talk to and go on real adventures with. I knew that having a stuffed animal around wasn’t really “cool” anymore, and yet, I wasn’t one of those teenagers who threw all of their old toys aside. In fact, even though I knew it wasn’t cool, I continued to sleep with Puppy every single night.

Even going into adulthood, Puppy is a friend who has remained with me since the beginning. He came with me as I set off for college. He sat with me in my lap when I would spend hours writing papers, or stay in my arms when I cried in the middle of the night because of the stress of finals. He’s continued to offer me the unwavering love and support that any best friend would.

Now that I’m 25, on the cusps of graduation and finding a job in the real world, I can honestly say that I have no intentions of ditching Puppy any time soon. It’s not a thought that’s ever even crossed my mind. Best friends don’t leave each other behind, after all.

Instead, I want to tell him thank you. Thank you, Puppy, for being a constant pillar of love and support. Thank you for being there to give me a hug when I needed it most. Thank you for remaining my best friend even though we don't take adventures to Grampie's tomato garden anymore. And thank you for staying with me as I tackle this new journey in my life.

I’ve grown and changed in so many ways since Puppy and I met 25 years ago, but our friendship with each other never has.