I was never really a dog person. I didn’t dislike dogs, growing up we had some schnauzers, but I never felt like they were mine. Then I met Sarah. She told me she had a Pitbull she rescued named Louisa living with her parents in Silver Creek, and planned to bring her back to Brooklyn when she moved into a place that allowed dogs. Eight months later we moved in together and shortly after that we drove to her parents to pick up Louisa. At first I would say things like, “Well, I love Sarah, so I’ll do my best to love Louisa.” It didn’t take long for that sentence to shorten to, “I love my dog, Louisa.” We started our own relationship, independent of Sarah, and I became a father to this dog. Every time I jingled my keys she would charge me with excitement for the walk we were about to go on. Every time I opened the front door a smile formed quickly on my face as I heard her bark hello and come flying over to greet me. I held this sixty pound dog like a baby many times, rocked her back forth as she slobbered all over me. A month and a half ago she was diagnosed with a highly malignant case of large cell lymphoma. She was maybe thirteen years old, which fortunately is around the life expectancy for her breed. We chose the route of palliative care, and let her live out her days happy, getting all the steak and parm cheese and burgers and treats and belly rubs and licks that her little heart desired. But as the cancer began to spread to her eyes earlier this week, we knew it was time. She taught me how to love something that had no verbal human way of telling me so, and I loved her more than I ever thought I could love an animal. I’m a dog person now. A proud Pitbull Dad. And saying goodbye to Louisa yesterday was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I’m proud of the life Sarah and I gave her, and especially grateful to Sarah for bringing her into mine. She’s the greatest gift I’ve ever gotten, and life won’t be the same without her. Goodbye Louisa, aka Little Log Dog, aka The Goober, aka Gloober McShloobler, aka Loggo McDoggerton, aka my sweet little angel pie. Go chase some squirrels in the sky and give ‘em hell. I love you ❤️