When I was 10 years old I went to my window of my room and prayed to God to give me a puppy. I love animals. I always have. Especially dogs. My parents finally told me that I could get a puppy. I was so excited. We went to a breeder’s house and there were 2 Cocker Spaniel puppies left. One was wild and excited and the other was just clam and quite. At first I wanted the wild loud one but then something about the other quite one made me pick him. There was something about him. That night he slept in a play pin by my bed and cried most of the night. I finally picked him up and put him on my pillow and he fell asleep peacefully. From that day on Duke slept on my bed with me. For 10 years, Duke slept with me. He was the best dog. I could do anything with him. He was so comfortable around me. His favorite things to do were jump up on my bed next to me and look out the window with me. When I would sit on the bottom stairs he would come underneath my legs and sit in the middle of them and just lick me. I taught him to sit, shake, lay down and give me high five. When he was finished in his bath he would just stand there until I said OK. Then he would put to paws up on the bathtub while I dried them then he would jump out. He never bit me. He never bit anyone. When we were at the lake he would sit in the lawn chairs with me. When we drove in the car, he liked to sit on my lap. He was the best dog. He was put to sleep May 1, 2000. He was 11 years old. My parents didn’t tell me until after it happened. They thought I would never allow it. I am so mad at them now. I never got to say goodbye. I am happy that he isn’t in pain anymore. I know he was in a lot of pain. But I wanted to be there. I wanted to say goodbye to him. I wanted to kiss him on the head and tell him I loved him and everything was going to be OK. I wanted to tell him that he would be the best dog I will ever have. Now I will never get a chance to. I will never see him again. I will never pet him again or kiss him again. I will never clean his ears again. I will never tell him I love him again. So this is my goodbye to my dog Duke, my son. Goodbye. I miss you. I will always love you.