Best Dog Ever

Every person on this planet probably knows someone who can lay claim to having had the best dog ever. 

The sweetest dog. 

The smartest dog.

The dog that saved their life, their children's lives, everyone's lives, etc., etc., etc.

You know that person -  braggers that they are. 

Well, I'm here to tell you that they are all big, fat liars. 

Because we hands down, no contest, had the Best Dog Ever. 

The one who loved kids even as a puppy. 

The one you could curl up and take a nap with. 

From sandcastles to snowmen, Kye was right there with us no matter what. And that's where she always wanted to be. 

Kye was woven into the fabric of this family and as I looked back through pictures it didn't matter where we were or what we were doing, I could find her. I found this picture in the file marked "House" and Mark was getting ready to measure out the lines for the foundation of our new house. But first he had to play with Kye.  

This is from our creek a couple of years ago when the boys had friends over. I didn't even remember Kye being there but of course she was. Because she was the Best Dog Ever. 

 Always there, always content, always happy to be doing whatever we were doing. 

Until she suddenly couldn't. We found a tumor on Kye in September and the prognosis wasn't good. While she wasn't in any pain at the time, she wasn't going to be able to beat this either. We were told to make her comfortable, make sure she eats, and keep an eye on her. 

We did and even though our hearts broke a little more each day, we watched as the cancer grew bigger and bigger. Pretty soon, she couldn't jump up the stairs any more. 

And pretty soon she wasn't wanting to eat much. 

And pretty soon she wouldn't even get up when I was lying on the floor. 

That's when we knew it was time. 

With tears running down our cheeks, we said our final good-byes to our sweet dog and then laid her to rest in one of her favorite places here on the farm. 

She is buried right by the creek where there is the sound of the water and deer often bed down under the tree. 

Although we have two other dogs still here with us and we love them dearly, they don't hold a candle to Kye. She seriously was - the Best Dog Ever. 

And she always will be.