The loss of Butter... Melting our heart till the very end

Tonight we lost our dog of 12 years, Butter. She was a gentle giant, a quiet spirit with more loyalty than you could ever ask for in a k-9 companion. She got her name after my stepdad saw her at an adoption fair, where he said she "melted [his] heart like butter". She was 6 months old and a beautiful mix of Labrador and German shepherd, although the exact mix was never actually determined. She was a wild puppy and quite the terror, destroying bedrooms, rolling around in mud and chewing through walls, earning her the nickname "Knuckles" because my mom always said she was going to give her a "knuckle sandwich". After some obedience training and years of patience, she transformed into the World's Best Dog. She always let us know when she needed to go outside and only let the ferocity out when a stranger knocked at the door. Butter cried out of happiness when she saw her loved ones or heard music... I remember fondly her loud notes when I practiced my clarinet in middle school - she didn't mind for a moment that I was off-note and pitch.

For years she lied beside my parents bed, faithfully and protectively until she aged to the point of sore joints preventing her from going up the stairs. She loved her crate, she loved her bed, but most of all, she loved us. Ever-hopeful of a petting and some attention, she was the most appreciative of souls... a 5 minute nuzzle and praise would last her all day.

When we knew she was sick, we were on one-hand grateful that we received 12 loving years from her, but at the same time, it still felt too soon. As we wipe tears from her eyes and try to accept her loss, we rejoice in the fact that she was ours. It will sink in slowly but surely, as we come home and her tail isn't wagging in the doorway, as she doesn't let out her sweet cries of joy, as dinner time comes and her food goes untouched. We will grieve, we will move on, and we will feel blessed to have her in our lives. "Old Rickety", we cannot wait to see you again on the other side.