Hondo, RIP

Yesterday we decided to put down our labrador retriever we've had for 11 1/2 years. It was devastating. Honestly, I hate myself for the way I feel now that Hondo's gone. I never bonded with him. David brought him home as a little puppy, and I immediately resented him because I didn't play any role in picking him and he totally destroyed our house the first few months. He was extremely hyper, slobbered everywhere, peed everywhere, tore up everything in sight. I hated him. And I never, ever really did like him. But he was a part of our family. He was as old as we've been married. He was our watch dog. He wagged his tail every time he saw us, followed us around all over the backyard, carried his leash in his mouth, licked Rocky's ears, wrestled with Rocky, laid with Rocky, ate with Rocky, slept with Rocky. Yes, Rocky, our other dog who is old and lost now without his bud Hondo.

David was with Hondo when he took his last breath, the way it should be. We will miss you, Hondo. RIP.