I was just a baby when we got Ginnar as a puppy. But when I got older, he became my best friend. He was clumsy but so sweet and protective. Life with him was great. I was happy, and responsible. My favorite memories are of when he would always run to the door when we came home from school or from a store. He was so strong, being bitten by a copperhead twice. He made my whole family happy and all our visitors loved him immediately. Gunnar had a thing for my grandmother's dog, O'Malley, who has also passed and her sweet self is reunited with Gunnar now.

There was a morning when Gunnar had an appointment. We all gathered around him and said "it's okay" "you'll be alright" "we love you".

But then one night I wasn't able to sleep. Lately Gunnar had been sickly and losing fur and he just wasn't himself. I prayed every night for him. So that night when I couldn't sleep, Gunnar ran in and knocked some pencils over, scaring himself. So he ran back out and I went out on search for him. I found him in my parents' room curled up. I put my favorite stuffed animal that I never slept without next to him on his stomach. This is my best memory.

The next night, my parents broke the news. Gunnar was out to sleep.

I didn't stop crying for weeks. My best friends dog had just been killed by a car not long before so we had each other to comfort. It's been at Least three years since Gunnar's death and I still cry now as I write this. Gunnar was my best friend.

Every now and then I visit his grave in our backyard. It's under a nice big tree with white stones marking his grave, just like or other dog's. I miss him so much and wish he never left. He was truly an amazing dog.