Somehow, they always knew exactly what we needed
When loneliness crept in, they’d demand our attention with a paw to the leg or a wet nose pressed against our hands
When sadness weighed heavy, they’d curl up without a sound, their quiet presence saying everything words couldn’t
We vented to them about our worst days, and they’d listen with the same seriousness they gave to a rustling chip bag
We cried in front of them, and they answered not with advice, but with a nuzzle, a lick, or the gentle, solid weight of their head on our lap

Then there are the magical, ridiculously happy moments
When their antics brought in heaps of smile and waves of happiness now that we look back
The sock thefts and the shoe nibbling
The zoomies around the house at 2 a.m.
The way they somehow always found the one forbidden chair to nap on
The way they knew the exact moment we opened a snack, even from three rooms away and made barking demands to make us give in