I was in university when my mom and sister brought Maddy home, and hesitant at first simply because having a dog was very foreign to me. By the end of the weekend, I cried when I had to go back to school a couple hours away, feeling like I was going to miss out. But I visited monthly and moved back the next year, then helped take care of her throughout her life.

And over her 15 and a half years, this adorable pup with the sweet face and loud bark became my best friend and the little love of my life. She survived a dog attack, and powered through a dislocated hip, arthritis, allergies, and even losing an eye. Sadly, she succumbed to severe pulmonary hypertension (a serious heart condition) in February 2021.

Maddy was the best decision my mom and sister made, and ultimately the most heartbreaking for me. There are still some moments that I can’t believe she’s gone. She was my snuggle buddy and “kissing war” partner. I sang her the Soft Kitty song from Big Bang Theory when she seemed anxious. We hung out often together on the couch, but our mutual favourite places were my mom's backyard or front stoop in the summers.

She gave me this sense that so many things were trivial and seemed to melt away when she’d lick my face. When I think about it, I can give Maddy a lot of the credit for my decision to go vegan. Falling so deeply in love with an animal furthered my appreciation and compassion for all species. She changed me forever and she will always live on in my heart. ❤️️