Got her when she was just a little tiny thing that fit in the palm of my hand and when all it did was sleep and look cute. She was with me my entire adult life so far. Even though it might have looked like I was taking care of her, the truth is it was always her taking care of me.

Like most pets she was loyal, full of kisses and love, and she was always so happy to see me, so happy to watch TV with me, so happy to go for a ride, so happy to sneak food off of my plate, so happy to play at the park, so happy to sit inside my backpack with just her head sticking out (hiking at Red Rock or on the beach in CA), and so happy to sleep on my pillow or in the laundry pile. I can't say I've made all the right decisions in my life, but I know for a fact there are a few good decisions that I made with her in mind as my guidance. She had the sweetest face and the biggest eyes that could guilt me into just about anything. She was here for me through good times and some really dark times too. And sometimes, she was the only one there.

Over the last year her health has significantly declined. I watched as her bones started to hurt her, as her eyes failed her and as cognative disorder set in. All the while thinking that someday she might feel better. Some days she did for a little while. But on Sunday I woke up to her crying in the kitchen. She hasn't been vocal in over a year so I was very shaken by her obvious pain.

I had the emergency vet euthanize my sweet baby girl, my best friend, the angel in my life on Sunday morning. I am absolutely devastated.

If you have a dog in your life, stop, take an extra minute to hug them everyday, or more time to play. Don't wait until they're gone to appreciate how precious they are and how much they mean to you. I thought I appreciated her, but now I think about all the time I was lucky enough to have with her and how much of that time was wasted.

I will love her, miss her and remember her forever.

J. Newsted