For 13 years, I have been lucky enough to have you by my side. I often wonder what I possibly did to deserve such an amazing dog.

Mell Garcia
Founder of Mell’s Mutts

Harriet, you came into my life when God knew I needed you, and now I’m trying my hardest to accept that you’re physically leaving me. From now on, I’ll have to navigate life with you as a memory, one of the best memories, and hold on to the hope that when it’s my time to leave, I’ll open my eyes and see you there. Maybe you’ll be holding your Frisbee, maybe playing in the water, or maybe just smiling at me like you did every morning when I woke up.

It’s crazy how someone you never knew you were missing can come into your life, and when they’re about to leave, you can’t even remember what life was without them. That’s you, Harriet. I feel like I blinked, and now you’re leaving. Thirteen years was not long — not long enough. But then again, how much time would have been enough? Fourteen, fifteen, twenty years? No. The truth is, no amount of time would have been enough, because there would still come this day — this day when I have to say goodbye.

I keep reminding myself that everyone who loves their dog the way I love you eventually faces this, but that doesn’t stop the overwhelming pain and sadness I feel.

I hope I did everything right by you and for you. I hope every day you were happy. And now, as I sit here watching your once-athletic body fail you, I hope you know that I would do anything to make you whole again. But I can’t. The last, most loving thing I can do for you is let you go, even though it feels like it’s going to break me.

I hope I gave you as much love and happiness as you gave me. I hope I threw your Frisbee enough times. I hope I took you on enough car rides. I hope I bought you enough burgers. Most of all, I hope you truly know how special you are.

What started as buying a $100 border collie puppy from a town two hours away turned into one of the very best things in my life. Despite all this hurt and excruciating sadness, I would absolutely do it all over again — only this time, I would try not to blink so fast.

I love you, Harriet, and I’m so grateful I had you for 13 years.

Tomorrow, I will say goodbye. But, I will never stop thinking about you. And I will hold out hope that when I open my eyes on the other side, you’ll be the first one I see. I love you.

Some people will say, “It’s just a dog.” But to some of us, a dog is everything.

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If you’re looking to adopt a dog, check out Mell’s Mutts’ adoptable pets. Each dog has been spayed or neutered, vaccinated, treated for ticks and fleas, dewormed, and cared for in a loving foster home.