Dear Best Friend,

I miss you. It's only been a few days and let me tell you, they have been some of the ruff-est (I know you would appreciate that pun) in my life.

We grew up together. You were there to cheer me up when I was down. You couldn't speak to me, but the comfort you provided meant more than words ever could have. You were the runt of the litter; I'm the baby of the family. The bond we shared isn't something that can be explained on paper, or in this case, on a computer screen. It was just love. Pure, unconditional love. To have had you in my life is something I will never take for granted. Friends came and went, but you were family, and family is forever.

I have no doubts that you were fully aware of how incredibly loved you were, which is just about the only thing holding me together. You were the perfect size for me to pick you up (against your will) and snuggle you every second of the day. I know you hated it sometimes, but that's the price you paid for being adorably fun-sized and snuggly (yes, it is painful to be writing all of this in past tense). You were my couch buddy when I was sick, my therapist when I needed to rant, my protector every, and I do mean every, time someone rang the doorbell and my best friend for life.

Your weird traits were some of the things I loved most about you. You were basically half cat with how much you would sit on the back of the couch and gaze out the window, you had to be touching someone when taking a nap, you loved shoving yourself into small corners, your snore sounded like a chainsaw (the cutest chainsaw ever), you were the absolute pickiest eater on the planet, you had an unhealthy obsession with swimming and I loved every single bit of you.

It is not fair that dogs only get such a small number of years on this planet. Enough to make you fall madly in love with them, but not nearly enough that you are even remotely ready to say goodbye when the time comes. I know that it was your time, but that doesn't make it hurt any less.

I hope you have endless Cheerios, belly rubs, swimming pools and snuggles up in Heaven, which is certainly where an angel like you belongs. Goodbye, best friend. Love you forever and always. I am going to go wipe my face, as I have made myself sob writing this. You had a good life and made mine a million times better just by being a part of it.

P.S. If you thought this was melodramatic, you clearly have never had a dog and my heart honestly breaks for you, my friend.