Dear Lemmy,

A little over two years ago, on February 18, 2018, I picked you up from the Animal Rescue League and brought you home. From the very beginning your only goal was to be near me. You crawled into my lap on the way home and preferred to ride in the car that way for a long time. You made it very clear very quickly that I was your person.

You’ve taken this job very seriously from the beginning. Anyone who comes near mama is scrutinized. Only the good ones get by. I’ve found that you are a most excellent judge of character. You sense things in people that I might not otherwise notice. Thank you for that.

In the beginning it was not easy. I had to work hard on teaching you to be a good boy. You tried really hard but you also wanted to protect me, and your food, and your toys. You didn’t like when anyone came near any of that. You had a lot taken from you when you were a baby. Almost everyone told me to give you up. I said no because I’m stubborn but because how could I possibly give you back?

Then there was also the coughing and the sneezing and the spiking of 106 degree fevers. We’ve spent a lot of time in the vet’s office. You have a chronic condition that makes you sort of sound like you smoke two packs a day. It’s ok, it keeps people away from us.

You’ve always been stuck to me like glue. Wherever I am, you are, especially if you think I might need some help or comfort. We have gone on lots of adventures together. You’ve helped me find new photo spots. You’ve walked and run with me when I was too restless to do anything else. With you as my copilot, I’ve gotten over my fear of driving over bridges.

You have an uncanny ability to know when I need you. You knew there was something wrong with my hip before the doctors knew there was a stress fracture in it. You’ve sat next to me and pawed my face and licked my tears when I’ve cried. If I get a cut and I’m bleeding, you very nicely try to clean it for me…I’ll pass, but good boy.

You have a very distinct personality. You communicate what you want. You love other dogs and want to make friends with every dog you see. You know when we are going certain places, like to the dog park, or to friends’ houses or to the store. You are a huge fan of chewing on bones and antlers. You like to try and bury things that you feel are important. You know words and phrases like “want to go for a ride” or “let’s go for a walk”. You love your cat brother, Lionel, but you don’t understand why he doesn’t want to play with you all the time.

You don’t like almond butter, waves, or people who aren’t nice to me and you’re very skeptical of horses. You also don’t always love when I sing in the car, but you sure do like listening to the My Favorite Murder podcast.

Before I got you, Lemmy, I was a cat person. I didn’t know much about having a dog. I very soon learned how much you needed me. What I didn’t realize at first was how much I needed you. I wouldn’t have made it without you. Thanks for being my BFF all this time.

Love, Mama.