Two nights ago I had to say goodbye to the puppy who has been my best friend for the last 14 years.

We got Aspen when she was only 5 weeks old, weighing no more than 5lbs, and loved her until she grew into the 50lb teddy bear she was. The only yellow puppy among her black and white siblings, I knew she was the one that had to come home with us.

The decision to put her down wasn’t at all easy, but we had to realize it wasn’t about us. Love is never about you. Dogs love unconditionally, and we must learn to do the same for them. We let her live for as long as she was comfortable and could enjoy her life.

I realize now that it’s not those last moments that matter, it’s the moments, days, and years before that. I’m glad I was there with her to say goodbye, and I can only hope I made her a little more calm and comfortable, but that was only one moment of her very long life.

 She could jump high enough to lick your nose and would bolt out the door and into the street given the slightest chance. She ate a 6 foot leash WHOLE (she had my appetite, I suppose) and loved to eat grass until she was sick.  She was sweet, and she was crazy, and she was everything we could’ve ever hoped for in a dog.

Love you, Aspen girl.