Missing my boy today

It’s his gotcha day. I picked him up from the shelter 11 years ago. At that time I was looking for a friend for my first dog. He was a 6 month old puppy cowering and shaking in the back of his kennel. He was so cute and I couldn’t bear the idea of him getting forgotten or adopted and returned because of his severe anxiety. So I took him home. We bonded quickly.

I had to let him go a couple of weeks ago after imaging showed some dangerous tumors. I got about 6 hours with him between being told and saying goodbye. It definitely wasn’t enough - but how much time really is?

So I’m at home cuddled up with his brother today, missing him. Missing the way his idea of cuddling was to lie facing me and lock his legs against me so I couldn’t pull him closer; the way he’d paw at his face if I stopped petting him and he wanted more attention; and surprisingly missing all the hair he’d shed everywhere lol.