We got Kona when I was 5 years old. A pristine, pure-bred, eight week old German Shepard. She had ears that were too big for her head, and she scarfed down her food without even chewing it. I loved her the moment I saw her. Kona and I, in a sense, grew up together. She taught me fetch, and I taught her hide-and-go-seek.

I'm 17 now, almost 18, and heading into my first year of college, over 2,000 miles away. Kona is no longer the puppy I once knew. Flecks of white now decorate her snout, and her arthritis has made playing fetch and other games a thing of the past. These days, she is content to nap at my feet or sit and be cuddled.

Old dog that she is, and dorm rules being what they are, I know that when I leave for school, Kona can't come with me. Because of this, I know for a fact that when I say goodbye at the end of the summer, I may not see her again. Kona is old, and her body is slowly deteriorating. There will come a day in the near future when she cannot continue, and I won't be there when she passes on. That fact breaks my heart, yet I know it to be true. This dog, this family member, is likely going to be gone when I come home.

Some people may find it silly to be so invested in a dog. But the reality is that Kona is my oldest and most loyal friend, and saying goodbye to her will be one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. It's easy to underestimate the relationship between a girl and her dog, but I know in my heart I would do anything to keep her with me forever.

All things considered, goodbye will be bittersweet, as I enter a new chapter of my life, yet leave behind a very old and dear friend. I always pictured myself there with her in her last moments, stroking her head or just laying beside her. It hurts that I can't be with her until the very end, but I take solace in the fact that she won't be alone, and I will remember her happily wagging her tail as I leave for school.

So, to all of you out there with pets, young or old, cherish them. Play with them, laugh at them, cry with them. Love them unconditionally, as they do for you, because in my opinion, it is one of the greatest things a person can do.