A dog-sized hole in my heart

Nearly ten years ago I fell in love with a puppy on petfinder at a kill shelter 2.5 hours away. I drove there and waited for them to open. When they brought him out to meet me, he ran so fast and excitedly he tripped over his misshaped little legs and slid into my lap. He continued to sit on my lap even when he was no longer eight lbs and pushing sixty. He never let me cry alone, knew I was sad before even I did and would come lay his head on me and do something ridiculous to eventually make me smile. Same when I was sick, he wouldn’t leave my side. Nurse token. My sensitive and loving boy. He was too good for this world.

At four he beat cancer the first time, then again at five, and again at seven. Our first run in with poison control was when he ate a year’s worth of flea/heart worm medicine in one sitting, including the cardboard box, and half a box of colored pencils. Our second was when he ate a block of rat poison. Neither incident phased the dog with a stomach of steel. He fought other ailments for years and was ALWAYS happy. Always wagging his tail. Always smiling. Always bringing those around him joy. He fought hard and came home from the hospital to spend what would be his finals days with us. Hanging out the window smiling taking my son to school. Still wagging his tail.

I will miss him immensely and love him forever.