Worm saved my life. He was a little puppy when I got him, I could hold him in one hand. I faced some extreme difficulties at that time and my Worm puppy gave me a sense of responsibility. I had to care for him. So I thought. It really was him taking care of me.

Through thick and thin, 6through good and bad, through many changes, he showed me a love that is truly unconditional and unmatched by human standards. He was always, ALWAYS, happy to see me come through the front door. His tail wagging, always vocal with a bark or love growl.

He would climb in bed with me. I love to snuggle with him. I can still smell him. We went on 100s of miles worth of hikes and walks. He was always by my side. He always had my back. I miss you Worm!

Thank you my dear friend Worm. Thank YOU for saving my life and caring for me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You were, and are, a true blessing and a great lesson of love...

Rest in peace my companion. 12/26/2007 - 2/6/2016

2/8/16
THE BEST PLACE TO BURY A DOG
by Ben Hur Lampman

"There is one best place to bury a dog.
"If you bury him in this spot, he will
come to you when you call - come to you
over the grim, dim frontier of death,
and down the well-remembered path,
and to your side again.

"And though you call a dozen living
dogs to heel, they shall not growl at
him, nor resent his coming,
for he belongs there.

"People may scoff at you, who see
no lightest blade of grass bent by his
footfall, who hear no whimper, people
who may never really have had a dog.
Smile at them, for you shall know
something that is hidden from them,
and which is well worth the knowing.

"The one best place to bury a good
dog is in the heart of his master."

2/8/16
My Worm Boy, it hasn't even been 2 days since you've gone. I wake up sobbing knowing that you aren't coming to me. I miss you Worm and my heart aches beyond measure. I cry for you.

I remember washing you in the yard in the middle of winter trying to get the skunk off of you, only to have to wash you the next week probably from the same skunk. Silly dog.

You were a Houdini when it came to the back yard. You never go far, usually just sit on the front porch intimidating everyone that walked by. The one time you left, you ran straight to aunt Christy's house, blocks and blocks away. You knew where you were loved. You knew where to go.

You love me rubbing the inside of your ear with my knuckle. You love to snuggle in bed with me. You always want to be the closest to me and you always were. You love the snow and long walks and long hikes. You love swimming. You love your brother Melvin cat. I KNOW that you love me too. Worm, I tried my hardest to give you the best dogs life. I made a commitment to you that was stronger than the commitments I make with people. Nothing was going to come between you and I. It truly was a "'til death do us part " deal. I never could have prepared for this. You seemed so healthy and so energetic and you were so loved. It was too sudden and random. I miss you boy.

I'll continue to sob. I can't help but to feel like my world is collapsing around me without you Worm. I love you Worm. I miss you.
Love from your daddy

2/9/2016
Worm, I miss you. I woke up crying for you again. I love you boy.

I loved playing hide-and-seek with you. You would get so excited when I was hiding behind a tree. I absolutely loved it. I loved throwing the frisbee or the ball or a stick for you to fetch. I loved playing keep away. I know that you loved these games too. I miss you Worm.

It was so funny when we walked how you liked to poop in bushes. Most dogs would poop on the ground, but not you Worm! You'd hang them up like Christmas ornaments! Silly dog! I'd give everything I have to have you by my side again.

I miss your soft face. It was so comforting to rub my cheek against your soft face. I love lying next to you, wrapping my arms around you and burying my nose in your hair. I miss your smell. I miss your kisses. I miss you Worm. I miss you waking me up in the morning to go pee. I miss our long, daily walks.

Your favorite words were "food", "hungry", "cookie", "whose here?", "want to go for a walk", and "grandmas here!" You loved your grandma and our walks with her. You'd meet her at the door and you'd sit as fast as possible always knowing she had a cookie or two in her pocket for you. Grandma misses you too. We all cry for you Worm.

I love you Worm.
Love From your daddy

2/10/16
Worm, I wake up so sad that you aren't nudging me and that you aren't right next to me. You were such a sweet boy and you adored me almost as much as I adored you. You trusted me and relied upon me. I miss you so, so, much.

I loved how you'd grab your rope and fling it in the air for yourself to catch! It was so cute. You were always ready to play, whether or not anyone else was willing to. You'd amuse yourself if necessary.

Even though you were probably close to 90 lbs, you were so gentle and loving. Your butt was a little heavy when you'd swing it around, and sometimes you'd seem to forget how big you were, but gentle never the less. I loved holding you.

Grandma reminded me yesterday of the last thunderstorm at her house. You'd run around the yard stairing at the sky barking as if you were yelling at God. You hated loud booms. I know it was my fault. That first 4th of July scared you so bad. I'm so sorry my sweet boy. Ever since that day loud noises just made you so mad at the sky. I couldnt help but smile and laugh a little as you pounced around the yard yelling your annoyance to the heavens.

I love how you'd go berserk on me sometimes as we walked. Not to anyone else, just me. You'd beg to play rough. You'd attack me visciously almost, all in fun of course. You were so strong. You were so protective also. Every morning I'd let you out and the first thing you'd always do is a perimeter check to make sure we were safe. Thank you for your protection. I miss your protection, it's too quiet when the door knocks. I need your aggressive bark to warn people that you are here to protect me. Forgive me, my good boy, for not being able to save you and protect you from this tragedy. My heart aches and bleeds and I can feel it pounding for you from within me.

You are the sweetest, most loving friend that I have met yet. My heart hurts so bad and it should. I'm ok with hurting so bad because you are definitely a friend worth crying over and missing so much. There is no other way.

I woke up crying for you again this morning Worm. I tried to give you the very best life, with good food, lots of walks and play, with lots of hugs and kisses. I hope that you know. Please forgive me if I failed in anyway.

I love you Worm. I love you, I love you, I love you.
Your heartbroken daddy...

2/11/16
Hello my sweet boy Worm,
I woke up wishing you were next to me again. Of course I always do, I always did. All day long I thought of you at work. It made work so difficult to concentrate. All I could think about was you. Nothing seems to matter otherwise. I want to kiss your soft, furry face. I loved to kiss your whiskers until it annoyed you. You are so precious to my spirit. You brought me so much joy.

There are so many good memories. I don't want to forget any of them. You were so smart and so well behaved for me... most of the time :) I loved that I could walk you off leash, you'd always listen to me and stay close. You are such a good boy Worm. I taught you to sit, shake, lay down, stay, and with hand signals too. I loved it. I loved giving you cookies. You were so smart. You knew the order. "Sit. Shake. Other paw. Lay down. Good boy!" and I'd give you a cookie. You are so funny though. You wanted to get straight to the cookie. You knew that after "lay down" you'd get a cookie so you'd try to skip the handshakes and you'd just lay down instead. "Sit, shake...no Worm...Sit, shake...Wooorrm.. Sit, shake, other paw...Wooorrm... Sit, shake, other paw, lay down...Good boy!" You loved your cookies. You deserved everyone of them + a million more.

I remember the days when you'd pull me on my skateboard. That was so fun. You'd pull me so fast! "Mush, mush." it was so much fun and I know that you loved it too. You are such a great dog. The very best. You are definitely a once in a lifetime friend. There will never be another friend like you.

I did say that you were such a good... most of the time :) Remember when we had chickens? Remember that one day that one chicken came up missing? WORM! I found that chicken buried in the corner of the yard with his feet sticking out of the ground! I brought it to you and you gave me the "guilty" look. You knew I knew! You wouldn't look me in the eyes would you? The very same look when I found Melvin's cat food bowl on the ground empty. Worm! You guilty little dog. I tied that dead chicken around your neck to teach you a lesson! You never messed with another chicken again... Until... We had chicks. We had chicks only once didn't we Worm? Those chicks became squeaky toys didn't they? Well... we learned that you couldn't be by the chickens anymore. I forgive you boy. I bet the irony is that you are probably lying around a 100 baby chicks right now playing. I bet you never meant to hurt any of those chicks anyways. I bet you just wanted to play and didn't realize you were so big. I love you Worm.

I love you Worm. The night you passed I clipped some of your hair and went for a long walk letting your hair blow away in the wind. I had you cremated and your ashes are right next to my bed. I'll sleep right next to you still. Before I had you cremated I had them clip a bunch of your hair. I going to bring you with me to all of our favorite places, I'm going to bring you to great heights, to the most beautiful places, and I'm going to let your hair blow in the wind.

I love you Worm. Your daddy misses you.

2/15/16
I love and miss you Worm.
I dropped some food on the floor today and didn't know what to do for a second. I expected you to jump on it. I think of you everyday.

I went for a hike today at Mtn. Park and remembered when you were a little fluff ball puppy at Mtn. Park sitting in the snow. You loved it. I miss your companionship.

While at Mtn. Park I visited the cliffs and sat in the sun. I said a quick prayer thanking God for my many blessings including you. I have some of your hair and I brought a little with me to let the breeze take you away. I'll be doing that a lot. I'll bring you everywhere with me and I'll let the wind carry you.

I can't wait to see you again. Love from your daddy...

2/20/16 I miss you Worm. It's been two weeks since you've gone. It's awkward not needing to go home right away to meet you. It's like I have nowhere to be now. I feel like I'm drifting without my anchor. I woke up thinking about you today, I do everyday. I love you Worm. Daddy misses your big, soft, loving body and kisses...

3/5/16 It's been a month since you've gone Worm. I miss you. You helped to relieve so much pain. When I was full of anxiety I could walk with you and find relief. I need a walk now. I need a fluffy hug and for you to give me kisses to let me know everything will be alright. I'm going to go for a walk now... alone, but in my solitude I will find comfort knowing that you are really with me... always. I will bring a tuft of your hair to let blow in the wind. I love you Worm.

3/13/16 Worm! My best friend. I miss you. I don't nearly walk enough anymore. You helped to keep me healthy. I love you Worm. I miss you. My heart aches for you. I wish you were here to wag your tail. I wish I could put my face next to yours and feel your soft fur against my cheek. I wish I could kiss you and love you and squeeze you. You're my best, best, bestest ever friend. I love you Worm and I think of you every day.

4/7/16 Worm! Hey boy! It's been two months. I love you. I hope you know that, and can feel me now thinking of you and loving you still. I believe that God is holding you and that you are in paradise. I believe I will be there with you, and God will hold us both. I miss you Worm. You were perfect and innocent. I wish I could pet you now. I love you boy.

4/26/16 Worm Dog! I miss you and my life won't ever be the same as it was with you as my partner. I'm going to get a puppy. A German shepherd I think. I wish that I could just have you all over again. I give anything to have you just one more day. I love you Worm. I always will.

5/7/16 It has been 3 months Worm. I miss you. I cried for you again today. Our love and bond was pure, priceless and irreplaceable. I loved that when I got home from work you'd be right at the door waiting for me and you would get so excited. You would start barking and whining and I'd have to lie you down and pet you and hug you and talk you down. We were best friends and unseperable. I miss you Worm. I look forward to the day I can hug you again. I love you Worm Dog.

7/12/16 Goodness Worm! It's been 5 months. I love you dog. I left some of your hair in Yosemite, in GA, and now I'm in St. Augustine, Florida, sitting on the beach watching the Lightning. You loved to swim. You hated the thunder. :) miss you Worm. You are with me everywhere that I go and a definite piece of my very spirit. You are a good boy.

9/3/16 Almost 7 months. Goodness Worm. I miss you. The whole summer I didn't get to throw a single stick for you to fetch or swim with you at all. You have definitely been the bestest friend that I have ever had. I love you Worm. My heart is still broken. You were the best. I'm sending you love. I pray that God has you in a place where you can feel it and know how much I miss you... Love, dad

9/16/16 I love you Worm. You were better than all my friendships. I could ALWAYS count on you. You were always there. I miss you. People really suck Worm. Humans can't be trusted in the way I trusted you. I would've trusted you with absolutely everything if I had to. You are one of the greatest gifts God has blessed me with. XOXOXO

10/15/16 Wish I could hug you boy and kiss your cheek. I absolutely loved you Worm and I miss you. Please be there waiting when my time comes. Heaven can only be complete with my dog. I can't wait to see you.

11/18/16 I went for a walk the other day with a tuft of your hair and I let it blow in the wind. I miss our walks. My heart still needs your love. I'll never forget you. I love you Worm.

12/20/16 I love you Worm. I was thinking of you. I know that you love me too. There probably isn't a love to match that of yours. I miss you dog.

12/26/16 HAPPY BIRTHDAY WORM!!! You would be 9 today. I wish I could give you your birthday bone. Love you boy.

2/6/17 It has been a year since you passed boy. I miss you. I love you dog, I gave you everything I could give, my entire heart. I wish I could've given you more. I wish I could've kept you forever. God's will be done. You are missed...

4/21/17 Worm. I love you. You gave my spirit great company. I miss you. I don't think I've met another friend like you. Absolutely nothing can match the love between a man and his dog. I think that probably only happens once in a lifetime. Thank you.

5/26/17 I visited Yosemite this week and I brought your spirit with me Worm. Yosemite is one of my most favorite places and I wish you could've been there with me. I let a couple tufts of your hair that I have kept drift down the Merced River. I know you love to swim. Not a more beautiful place to let a little of you go free. Miss you dog. Love you boy.

7/1/17 I was thinking of you today Worm. I was watching a beautiful, red cardinal sing and it made me realize how precious life is. I miss you dog. I have a tuft of your hair in my backpack still. I like to bring you with me. I left a piece of your hair where the cardinal was singing hoping you would become a piece of their nest and I let a piece of your hair drift off in the Atlantic off of the St. Augustine Beach. Love you boy.

8/15/17 I miss you dog. I'm hiking the JMT in a couple days. I loved hiking with you Worm. I'm bringing my medicine bag with a big tuft of your hair in it so that you are with me. I'll let you go in the breeze through out the Sierra Nevada. I hope that this will honor you. You saved my life and I owe it to you. I love you dog, be with me.

9/14/17 What a great hike Worm! The JMT was amazing and you were with me the whole way. I let a little bit of your hair go with the wind over every pass and flow away in the Sierra snow melt. You are a piece of the Sierra now. You were my best hiking partner Worm. I hope that I honored you. I love you boy.

11/16/17 I'm thinking about you all the time Worm dog. I love and miss you. What I would do to hug you. You saved me.

1/5/18 I miss you big dog. I wish you were here. Love you.

2/6/18
It has been 2 years since you went on the long walk with God. I miss you still. Timmy, Julie's Aussie passed yesterday. Please welcome him home. I know that dogs go to heaven and that you are safe and healthy. Love you Worm.

6/15/18
Worm! I miss you. A dog's love is worth more than anything. It is priceless. Thank you for teaching me that. I wish that life didn't have to be riddled with loss, but knowing love is worth the pain. I'd give up everything to have you as a pup and raise you again. You were the meaning of life. Love you boy. Daddy.

9/2/18
Hi Worm! I just want you to know I love you and miss you still. I can't wait to see you and hug you again. I love you dog.

12/11/18
Miss you Worm! It's that time of year again. Snow! You loved the snow. I wish we could play together in it. Miss you pup. I'll never forget that you saved my life. Love you boy.

12/26/18 Happy Birthday Worm! You would be 11 today. I wish I could give you a birthday bone. Love you pup. I can't wait to see you again.

2/6/19 It has been 3 years Worm. I miss you pup. My Jake boy is taking care of me for you. I hope you don't mind that he sleeps in your bed. He keeps it warm. Love you Worm. You were the best dog and friend. I'll always miss you, you are a part of my spirit.

4/23/19 Getting ready to go on a hike. I was thinking about you and wish you were here. You were the very best hiking partner. Love you Worm.

9/14/19 I hiked Alta Peak in Sequoia and, of course like always, I thought of you Worm. My best friend, my hiking partner. You knew my spirit like no one else. I love and miss you. Can't wait to be next to you again.

12/26/19 Happy Birthday Worm! I wish I could give you your bday bone. I love you dog and I miss you. 12 years old today. You're still my best friend.

2/5/20 Tomorrow will be 4 years. Miss you Worm. A lot. I still have my pics of you and your ashes on my dresser. I love you Worm. Never to be a dog like you again. One day we will meet again.

3/21/20 Thinking of you my Wormdog. I miss you. You're a good dog. You made everything better. I wish you were right next to me right now. I love you.

6/7/20 Woooorrrrmmm! I miss you dog. My very best friend. I can't wait to see you again. Nothing is like having a good dog by your side. You were the best. I think of you lots and will always miss you. Love you Worm.

7/28/20 I still carry strands of your hair with me. I let some of your strands go in the Great Lake of Ontario today. You have been so many places with me Worm, in Spirit. You'll continue to be by my side. I miss you. You calmed my spirit. I love you tremendously. Love, from your dad.

12/26/2020 Happy birthday boy! I miss giving you a birthday bone.

1/11/2021 I love you Worm. Can't wait to see you again.

2/6/21 It has been 5 years now. You're still the best dog and I miss you. I'd give absolutely everything I have to have you back. You were by far the best friend I've had. Love you boy.

8/29/22 I think of you often, Worm. You've left a tremendous impression upon my heart. If only I could be more like you. I miss and love you greatly.

1/20/23 I'm always looking at your pictures, Worm. I love you. I miss you. I wish that I had you with me. You were the very best and smartest dog. I lost you too soon. We will meet again, my friend.

5/15/23
I love you WormDog. I miss you. I hope that I helped you to live a happy life. Forgive me for my failures. I wish that I could ug you right now to let you know that I still live you. You were the very best and most loyal friend. My JakeDog would've learned to love you a lot.

7/24/23
I hope you know how much I love you. I miss you. You were a good dog. The best. I hope you have peace. I hope you knew that I loved you.

8/30/23
Worm! I miss you! I can't wait to see you again. In the next life, we will be reunited. That'll be an amazing day. Love you. You're a good boy.

2/5/24
It has been 8 years since we parted ways, and you were only 8 years old. You left way too soon. I miss you, Worm. I love you. You were my best friend, 100%. Jake is a good boy. I think you two could've learned to love each other. I can't wait to hug you again. In Heaven we will meet again. ❤️

11/9/24
I still think of you everyday, WormDog. I love and miss you. You are a good boy and I can't wait to see you again.