12/05/2025
Strider,
I canât even begin to tell you how much you have meant to me. You came in to my life and was exactly what I needed before I even knew it. You taught me patience, empathy, determination, bravery, and compassion. No part of me will ever be whole without you. I donât know how to put these broken pieces together without my best friendâitâs like missing the most vital piece of the puzzle. I will miss every single thing about you. Iâll miss your twisty ears that somehow looked different every day. You howling at trains and sirens. You waking us up by yawning in our faces every morning. The way the top of your head smells exactly like a grape-scented marker. How soft the fur is on that one spot on your side. The way you hug me when I get home. Your tippy taps when youâre so happy you canât even stand still. How excited you get to work with me. Your whisper barks. Your crooked bottom incisors. You sneakily appearing when you hear the carrot bag open. How much you love digging in your pool. You wagging your tail in your sleep. Everything. Thank you for trusting me without hesitation even when I didnât deserve it. I wish I couldâve given you more, you deserve the entire world. Iâm so sorry you were in pain your last month, and that I couldnât explain to you that we were constantly trying to figure out how to help you. I hope you felt comfortable during your last weekend and that you enjoyed all the chocolate, ice cream, fast food, and popcorn you got. I hope you know how immensely loved you areâI love you more than anything, more than you could ever comprehend. Thank you for making it obvious when it was time to say goodbye, I never couldâve made the decision on my own, and I think you knew that somehow. Eight years with my sidekick was not nearly enough; Iâll see you again someday, save a spot on the couch for me.