Man’s Best Friend [PHOTOS]

Katie Ann. She is a 12 year old second hand lab. She is black, gray, lumpy, stinky, sheds a lot and I wish I could love as unconditionally as she has. She has been my travel buddy, my snuggle bug, critter chaser, swimmer, and somewhere along our journey my energetic companion has transitioned into a quiet sideline player in my life. It's a sneaky thing, aging. It seems like yesterday I was trying to keep Katie off of the bed. Now, if her old body could jump high enough to shed all over the bed, I would just smile and give her a pillow.

We love our dogs. With their pure souls and their unfaltering affection, we lose ourselves in the routine of their existence and before we know it they are a little bit slower, and a lot more gray around the muzzle.

Our constant sidekicks, there isn't a place in my house I haven't tripped over a dog.  Just yesterday Drake (the chocolate lab) helped Steven mow the yard--step for step Drake was right behind him.

They even wait on Santa Claus. (Drake deserves to be on the naughty list though).

No dogs in the bed. Good luck with that if you have a strong willed Lab, you kick him out of one, and he stealthily finds his way to the next. We usually have to keep the bedroom doors locked---yes, locked, because Drake can open doors.  . even the ones that lead outside. Unfortunately he has not learned to shut them.

They make us scream, they make us laugh, they tear up socks, stuffed animals, and toys. They share some of the best memories of our lives and then they unfortunately leave us too soon. Tell me about the best dog you ever owned, or that owned you. ;)