Pets.

Everyone wants them, and pretty much everyone has them.

I remember when I was a little kid, and absolutely needing a dog. It was a necessity, not a want. What I didn't know was how much my dog would make an impact on my life -- especially when he was gone.

When we planned on going to the breeders house, all I wanted was a Pug. As we walked into the well-lit garage and approached the plastic gate that surrounded several dogs, we searched far and wide for our little man.

There were so many different kinds. And then we saw him -- the runt of the pack. He was getting pushed around by the other puppies who begged for our attention but there he sat, patiently waiting for his chance.

We knew it when we saw him. He was the one.

When we took our puppy home, he was no bigger than my brother's size 11 boot. Our cat, Harley, wasn't too fond of the idea of having another pet in the house. We knew that from the deep hisses and meows as soon as our little pup stumbled in the door.

He was home, but we hadn't picked a name.

We sat around him for what felt like hours as he chewed on his first bone in front of the fireplace. Throwing out names like Sparky, Skipper, Wrinkles -- the list went on and on. Feeling thirsty, I got up and went to the fridge and brought back a Lipton Brisk Iced Tea. I remember looking at the can and then looking at my family, and we knew his name was picked. Lipton.

That's how it all started, and 10 years later when I was sitting in the veterinarian office waiting to put down our now 10-year-old dog, the tears were pouring out and the thoughts were rushing back.

I recalled the times I'd wish I never had a dog. He was a lot to take care of during high school, through my parents divorce and just sometimes being the little psycho he was. But looking back on it, I realize how much I loved him.

He was always next to me when I was sick, worried, happy, and even sad. For everything I went through, he was there.

I remembered the way he would run around the house after getting a bath and his tail would uncurl -- we called it the elephant trunk. Snoring, shedding, barking -- the list goes on. A dog doing dog things.

What I can tell you is although it's been two years, I miss him more than I thought I would.

Having a little pup literally drag his fuzzy bed to greet me at the door while his whole body wags in-sync with his tail are memories I'll hold on to. Laying down, and him jumping up next to me and laying in the crease between my legs are moments I'll look back on and smile.

We forget all the things our pets do for us, even the little things.

We honor their lives with articles like this, a heartfelt Facebook post, or a memory and stories that can go on forever. I've thought about all the moments I would give to just have one more moment back with that little runt in the plastic gate or go back to holding him for the first time.

I would probably pick him up and tell him, "I know you don't know this, but you're going to change our families life. I know you won't understand a lot of what's going on around you, but just know you are loved more than I ever thought I could love a pet. And also, just know that you were my favorite part about every day, whether I showed it or not."

If you have a pet, give them a hug or tell them how you feel now before you can't anymore, even though we know they won't understand you.

I miss you Lipton, and I hope everything is going well up there in doggie world.

You were the best dog and the best friend I could ask for.