Ah Pang

Seven years together.

I've been lucky enough to have "had" many dogs, but I've never met a dog that understood people so well before.

Ah Pang was absurdly considerate. Locked outside the gate? He'll just quietly sit there, even in the rain -- our other dogs would bark for the gate instead. Does he want to jump on you? Absolutely, but he won't do it unless you're ok with it. Loves your attention, but won't demand it. Always quietly somewhere nearby, never straying too far from home.

Very calm except when suddenly very goofy, racing around the compound. An escape artist that easily cleared high gates, who was so well-behaved that he didn't need to wait in the pen for visitors to leave anyway. Really intelligent too. I think he's the first dog to regularly open swing doors with his paw, and I think he taught that trick to the other dogs.

When I didn't know where life was going, you were always there. You knew more of my secrets and my worries than anyone does. I like to think that we influenced each other a lot. Lots of things in life aren't worth getting worked up over, right? We don't need to fix the world's problems immediately, and good people will come around in their own time, so let things be. Just be in good company, find a warm spot, and enjoy the sunshine.

My dog. Afterlife, rebirth, or an endless sleep -- whichever it is, be well. I'm genuinely glad to have had you in my life.