Tom. He's pretty amazing.

I lost a best friend today. I just wanted to share some pictures and a few memories. His name is Tom and he will always remain one of the smartest creatures I've had the pleasure of knowing. He was a quick study, learned words and names and skills faster than any of his brethren, and even took it upon himself to teach the others. He'd mastered the new door we installed for him and his parents literally in seconds, and then spent an hour demonstrating and cajoling the other dogs on how to use it.  He was kind, playful, and thoughtful. He loved toys like a puppy his whole long life, and though he literally had dozens, he remembered the names for each one, and could identify and find anything you asked him for with merely a suggestion. He stayed with me when I was ill and would hardly leave my side when I was recovering from surgery - he was a treasured companion on the long and lonely nights when at times the medicine or the pain wouldn't let me sleep. He always knew what I was talking about and always knew what to say, in his own way. He was funny, and expressive, and always longed to be with us and be one of us. And he was.

Big, beautiful, soulful eyes.

Concentrating - and being cute.

Listening closely. See the way his ear's perked out? You could tell you had his attention that way.

Nice and comfortable with his head up on the pillows.

Being free.

I love my dog so much and I'm so glad I was able to see him again. I missed him terribly when I was in Japan and Skyped with him even. It breaks my heart knowing that I'm leaving for Japan again in just a day and that he won't be waiting the next time I come home. Though this hurts more than even I expected it to, because I did try to prepare myself, knowing he was very sick, I wouldn't trade knowing him these 11 years, from the first seconds of his birth until the very day he died, for anything.