My Dog Ratchet

by MHM
(Bellingham)

My parents adopted this dog when she was just a baby, her birthday is just a few months before mine in March, and I was born in July after she was adopted.

We were the same age and we grew up together. I loved her so much and she loved me. We would play together in her dog cage, she would sleep on my bed, I'd play with her outside, she loved sunflowers and she loved sniffing them, and we took naps together on the couch.

As we both got older of course I made more friends and started to hang out with them instead of my actual best friend, my dog. But I still cared about her. But she started to get really sore and she would need help getting up the stairs to come inside so I helped her. I was also the most worried in the family so at night I'd check on her a couple times to make sure she was still breathing. Thankfully every time I checked she was still alive, but as time passed she started getting worse. She didn't eat much and all she would do is walk around, back and forth even though her legs caused her pain too. It's like she was telling us she needed help, Like maybe she had to leave, and I mean she was 14. So it was about her time.

But one day we all decided it was finally time to put her down. So I got home from school not knowing it was going to be that day. I got told to give her loves so I did. I take photos of her, gave her pets and a hug and said goodbye to my best friend. I didn't wanna leave her, I wanted to go with her to the vet too, but I knew it would be even more hard on me. So I stayed home. But I regret my decision and I wish I went with and held her paw as she left this earth. But she will always be with us in our hearts, and who knows, maybe in the afterlife, in a new form, she will come find us.

I'll forever miss you, Ratchet.