From day one, I immediately knew that you were forever going to be my favorite thing. I got you a few months after I had turned six years old. I was old enough to comprehend a pet and how you should care for one. I promise, I tried to take really good care of you that young (even if it meant carrying you down the rock steps and tumbling you with my arms). I held you the whole time I fell because I knew I had to protect you. You were so energetic. Dad's face filled with joy every time he looked at you. You two were best buds. I know Mom didn’t give you as much attention as you would have liked, but I think you got on her nerves for making her have to vacuum all of the time. It’s OK, though, we all caught her during her sappy moments loving you. My sister loved you, too. You were like our brother. You always will be.

There’s no better gift parents could give their children than a pet. We named you after our grandfather. He had passed that year, and I believe one of my aunts had given Dad the idea to name you after Pop’s nickname, so we did. Not only were you my entire childhood, but you were a reminding piece of him, as well; therefore, you meant the world to me. Even more than that, if that’s possible.

I’m sorry for yelling at you when you’d bark sometimes. You never yelled at me for talking, so I apologize. You were seriously the best dog ever. You always let me maul you, tease you, run around with you and be my shoulder to cry on. The best feeling ever would be coming home from a long day at school or work and having you greet me at the door. Your wagging tail and slobbering mouth was so worth looking forward to. And let’s not forget your kisses. Those were the best. It showed me you loved me as much as I’ll always love you.

When you were 9, your stomach flipped. I remember coming home from practice, driving in the car with Mom, as she had tears rolling down her face, and that’s when I got the bad news. I got home to see Dad and my sister crying. I thought it was the end, but thankfully, it wasn’t. You remained tough through your immediate surgery, and you survived. From that day on, I never took another single second with you for granted. You were a miracle.

A little after two years, we had gotten our second dog. Deep down, I know you loved him, and he really loved you. I’m sorry he was a puppy and annoyed you all the time. I promise you, he only wanted to play. When one of you left the house, the other would cry. It was the sweetest thing.

This past fall, I had to leave for college. Yeah, leaving family and friends was hard, but leaving you was the hardest. You were the thing I looked forward to seeing the most when I came home. I couldn’t wait to walk in and have you greet me at midnight after Mom picked me up from the airport. I never wanted to leave your side as I walked through that door. Trust me, the floor wasn’t comfy, but laying next to you was so worth it.

Considering you were coming up on 13 years, I knew that leaving you after spring break could have possibly been my last time seeing you, and it was. I have just received one of the worst phone calls of my life. It left me speechless and in more tears than you could even imagine. I lost my best friend.

Thank you for always being my sidekick, my best friend, my shoulder to cry on, the best company and the best first dog ever. I can't imagine my childhood without you. Growing up with you by my side was so incredible, and I would do it all over if I had the chance. I know you’re up in doggy heaven watching over your brother. Make sure he stops running through the electric fence, I don’t want to lose him, too. I’m happy to know that you are no longer suffering. I can't thank you enough for being so strong and hanging on for almost 13 years. For a lab, that’s incredible. I will never forget you. You will always be on my mind and in my heart. I love you, buddy, rest easy.