Even when you peed on the carpet, I loved you.

When you stopped peeing on the carpet, I found a way to love you even more.

When you woke me up early on a Saturday morning, demanding breakfast and a long walk in the rain, I loved you, even though that meant I had to shake off the cob webs much earlier than I had originally planned.

When you listened to me, I loved you a LOT. Even more so, listening to me in front of a group of people made me so proud I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face for hours.

Those times when I took you to Green Lake to pick up girls, and instead you’d attract more middle-aged men because you’d remind them of their dog growing up, I loved you (although I told you we needed to work on that!)

When you disobeyed me and I was forced to raise my voice with you, I still loved you. I loved you so much that I always wanted you to know the difference between doing the right thing (“good boy!”) and the wrong thing (“Tyyy-soooonnnnn!!!!”)

The fact that you always knew when it was me coming through the front door meant the world to me — you were always there. Tail wagging. Barking up a storm. Giving me big fat doggie kisses when I bent down to pet you. You’d run up and lay on my bed — waiting patiently for me to give you a belly rub and head scratch.

When I tried to give you nice toys, you spurned them in favor of a stick from the back yard, showing me how much the little things in life matter and how material possessions are precisely that: material. Temporary. Meaningless without context.

Your love of the simple things in life reminded me of a fantastic quote I once heard:

“A dog has no use for fancy cars, big homes, or designer clothes. A water log stick will do just fine. A dog doesn’t care if your rich or poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give him your heart and he’ll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?”

You made me feel inexplicably special, Tyson, and I hope that from this day forward I can deliver a fraction of that feeling to every single person that I meet; that I can make somebody else feel as extraordinary, special and loved the way you made me feel over the past nine months.

Until the day I die, you’ll always be in my heart and on my mind.

Forever and always your best friend.

Me