They say dog is man’s best friend, and when Daddy brought home this amber eyed fuzzball I knew I had found my forever friend too. Don’t tell anyone else, but I think you’re my best friend in the whole entire world, for a few different reasons.

You know more about me than anyone else could ever dream of knowing. You’ve heard my early morning complaints and my late night rambles when I sleep at night. You’ve cuddled with me while I sobbed over boys who broke my heart and things that were beyond out of my control. You’ve heard the things I’m too afraid to even tell my sister or my mom, there is no one I trust more with my secrets than you.

I never ever have to feel about not feeling safe when I’m at home. When you’re not in bed with one of us, you’re happily at your post up against the front door, laid just right so you can see the glass door in the kitchen too.

You always let us know when someone/something approaches the house, and if an unwelcome guest were ever to show up, you would be the first to know. You make sure we’re all protected, guarded and warm whenever we get sick or hurt. I’ve never seen a dog more loyal than you, buddy.

You’re so loving, and I know it comes naturally to you but when I come home from school and get greeted by you bolting out the door, nothing warms my heart more. Or the sad look on your face when you know I’m packing up to head back, that breaks my heart in a way I can’t even begin to explain. Waking up to your lovins' every Saturday morning is the highlight of my life.

I think all the time about how you are the glue that holds our family together and saved us. You complete us: the three kids, Mom, Dad & our buddy boy. Even when you get muddy paw prints all over after mom just mopped, or decide to spill your water bowl all over the kitchen floor (at dinnertime), or chase the cats around the backyard for hours, I love you as so much more than just a dog. I don’t know what we would do without you.