A good day at the park

I adopted Riley in the Fall of 2014 — nearly 10 years ago. He was my first dog. I have had a couple close friends recently tell me they believe we have multiple soul mates in life, and I believe them. He changed me forever. He is first in my heart. I will love him for the rest of time.

Riley passed one week ago. Osteosarcoma took the use of one of his legs, and arthritis prevented the other legs from being able to compensate. Combined they cost him most of his favorite things in life, which were all outside. Sniffing. Exploring. Running. Meeting strangers. He fought back hard, but in time the pain got beyond anything we could control with medicine.

He was the sweetest boy in the world, and saw the good in everything around him. You could sense the enthusiasm and positivity radiating from him. But he was also supremely calm all the time. He loved attention, but he was never pushy about it. He touched many lives, not just my own. In another life, he would have made a wonderful therapy dog.

This painting is to celebrate Riley, a dog I love beyond limits.

Good bye, my friend. My soul.

I wish we could have walked together forever.