All the bunnies in heaven need to be vigilant. Miracle Dog is in the house. 

As I wallow in heartbreak, I clearly see the intensity of my pain is proportionate to the intensity of my love for my furry daughter. No offense, humans, but yesterday I lost my best friend. 

As I navigate the palpable emptiness, my pants are still covered in fur and remind me of the freshness of this wound. Stepping in her water bowl slosh, the puddle reminds me of the free-flowing tears. Turning a corner and seeing her toy where she sat… only yesterday… is a sharp blow. 

Yet. 

Yet, I had 15 ½ years with the best dog. The treat of time is that instead of focusing on her faults of mischief and rambunctiousness, I remember the joys of our time together. Well, ok, so I do remember her eating my doorframe and fence panel as a puppy, dragging her sister along for a “walk” scraping child knees for several house lengths, eating the Godiva Easter bunnies out of the baskets, eating all the birthday party prizes before the party (and promptly vomiting in a rainbow of colors), having to extract a long towel from her back end. Ahhh, the joys. Yet, I miss her. 

Sophie Doggie, best friend to 3 young sisters, wore many hats… no, I’m not speaking figuratively. She literally wore many hats. She wore a Hannah Montana wig, feather boas, sunglasses, hula outfits, a bikini, homemade horse saddle and mane, dresses, dance costumes, a cow outfit, a “My family went to Disney and all I got was this t-shirt” shirt, necklaces as she played the Pretty Pretty Princess game, tiaras, painted on eyebrows, our live hamsters (yes, right on her back), capes, aprons, confetti, headbands, leaves, garland, painted toenails, booties which we discovered were hysterically fun because she would prance as she lifted her legs extra high, a snowman hat and scarf, a diva headset, spray on hair color, mud from adventures, and a heart of gold.

Sophie had many best friends. Each human who spent a significant amount of time with her felt the love of a furry best friend. Me, Joe, Audrey, Christie, Katherine, Nikki, Jasmine, Max, Mason, Michelle, and that’s only with 5 seconds of thought. When Sophie was with you, she was with you... cuddles, nose pokes, paw caresses, intense puppy eyes. And, she was a definite Lap-rador. 65 pounds of love on our little legs, as often as we would sit still.

From her energetic puppy years of my caring for her and training her, to the middle years of her magically appearing with comfort for any of us with any need and ready for any adventure, to the end years of caring for her in sickness and in health, I will treasure all my time with her. We had incredible tail-wagging moments. 

I am keenly aware of the blessing of the 1,298 bonus days after her terminal diagnosis.

Thousands of walks when we thought each may be our last.  

Thousands of cuddles when we thought of the time we’d have no more.

Thousands of nose pokes.

Thousands of puppy dog looks to remind us she’s always with us.

Love you forever, Sophie Doggie, Snoop Dog, Miracle Dog. You have made my heart bigger by filling it with yours.