Two friends lost dogs recently. Words are hard to find. Losing a dog is the loudest type of quiet. No more barks, no more tags jingling or nails trotting across hardwood floors. No more slurping water gurgles. No more conversations, it’s at this point you realize how many conversations there were. All the things that might have annoyed you before, the hair, the slobber, the poop… you feel lost without it.

Grief is the price we pay for loving deeply. In my opinion, it’s always been worth it. Our little buddies are here for such a short time, that’s probably why they follow us around, want to be as near to us as possible and keep jumping on the bed even when told no. They are born to realize that we have to make the most of our time together. What better way to do that than be at your side whenever possible.

My heartfelt sympathies to the Chatterjee family who lost their Dexter and to the Fulmer family who lost their Buck. Both dogs were blessed to be loved by such wonderful people.