You came into my life in August of 2005.

Covered in ringworm, I wasn’t even sure what color your fur was. But you were so wiggly and loved to jump up and give kisses (a habit we never were able to break) and I immediately fell in love with your personality. You were my first Foster Fail.

We named you Ford because you were found on Shallowford Rd. As I bathed you every other day and your fur started to grow in we saw you had a beautiful brown coat. That fur soon covered everything I owned.

Matt and I had only been dating a month, but he immediately fell in love with you. I am 99.42% certain you were the reason he asked me to move in with him.

We moved to Stone Mountain where you had a beautiful back yard to play in, obnoxious children next door to bark at and a giant mountain park to hike and climb with your friend Piper. We had birthday parties where you had a blast playing with Tater, Barkley, Bessie, Annie, Annie 2.0, Bobo, Feebee, Lily, Aaran, Piper, Maddie, and Happy.

You loved going to Braves Games with your buddy Tater and going to work with me at Underground Atlanta and then Centennial Olympic Park where you became the mascot for City Segway Tours Atlanta. You let tourists who were homesick for their dogs pet you and loved it when your buddy Camo would visit.

When we had house parties you were so sweet to everyone and scammed many people out of cocktail sausages and celery sticks (and the occasional bag of candles).

When Matt asked me to marry him, of course you were going to be our ring bearer. You were so handsome and we realized then you were definitely a beach pup.

You loved playing at Wag-A-Lots and you met your sister Abby there. She became our second try at fostering but we knew the second you started kissing her ears that she was staying. Sally you weren’t too sure about and although you guys got in the occasional spat you welcomed her in as the third musketeer.

You loved riding in cars – so much that when we decided to move to Florida you made the most trips back and forth during the move while the girls stayed in daycare.

You helped Matt transition to moving to Florida when I couldn’t come down in the beginning and you two were bachelors in paradise until the girls and I moved down two months later.

When we moved to Clearwater you loved “talking” to Lucy and Sophie over the fence and walking around the block (when it wasn’t too hot).

You kept me company while I looked for work (and again later in the corona virus)

These last few years have been tough as we have watched you fight through vestibular disease, arthritis, and dementia. Yet, you were always there with a wagging tail and a sweet kiss.

When your tail couldn’t wag and you legs couldn’t hold you we knew you were letting us know it was time.

Thank you for being the Goodest Boy there ever was. You are heading to a place where there are unlimited ice cubes and celery sticks and all your buddies who have gone before you are waiting for you.

Goodnight My Boy. My Love.