I am Mali…

         I am Mali and I am a Labradooble. I was 16 1/2 years old. On August 16, 2019, I passed away. The night prior, my owner named Chad, and I took a walk around our apartment complex. I was so happy to receive all my gentle pets from the various children. I was glad to be loved by Chad. I remember when I first met Chad. I was just a little puppy. I traveled a long way to be with him, and I was scared to death. Chad always had a way to be there to comfort me. I guess a person could say Chad was one of my best friends. Chad was always there to pet or play catch with me. I never really knew why he loved me. I was just a dog.
       When I first met Chad, he had just come home from the hospital after a traumatic brain injury. Like Chad, I had to do a lot of maturing and growing. We spent lots of time together. When I was a teenager, Chad threw a bright yellow thing down our yard one day, and I was hooked. I would love to play with him any chance I got. I would bark loud, and after a while, he just accepted me for being his noisy companion. For some reason, I never got tired. We were like two peas in a pod.

       I very rarely got into mischief. I took dog school. Of course, I passed with flying colors. On the other hand, Bella was one of my 12 puppies that did not do so hot in her training. She was a good kid but kind of annoying. She passed away a while ago, but I still had Chad. I felt his unconditional love.
       Nothing I did got Chad mad, so I didn’t do anything. I would always feel loved. At his parents’ house, I would lay in the kitchen by the door to the garage in hopes that he would return to pick me up.
       I prided myself in my loyalty and love for any person, but Chad always had my heart. We were consistent companions. Loving, loyal, sometimes naughty, and annoying, but always loved and adored. I simply decided at 1:24 a.m. on Friday, I had enough. As I could not walk and gasp for air, Chad heard my noise and came to lay down beside me like any good owner would do at a time of need. I knew something was wrong, but I was not scared. I had the person who I loved unconditionally beside me, but still, the tears came. Just now, he realized that it is okay to feel sad. It is okay to feel a considerable loss. The loss of a physical presence does not mean that I am not with him.
       My spirit is all around. Our memories, pictures, conversations are still with us. All serve to remind him that everything is okay. Reminding him of the love I brought every day into his life would give any person or animal purpose. That love is still inside of him, waiting to explode onto another animal or human.
       Death is just part of our existence at the moment. It’s part of the cycle of life. I know Chad will love again. The love he gives is intoxicating. I will always love and adore my dog, Mali!

1.) If you remember any memories of me, please type them to help remind Chad.