[This contribution to our weekend is a complete change of pace. It's moving and heart-wrenching but I think it's an important message to all of us, especially those of us who might - on occasion - get annoyed when a certain puppy whose name rhymes with Leo pees on our floor. Take care of your dogs and love them every single day. Thanks so much, Joel.]

She started stumbling, a lot. Her first injury was when she jumped off of the picnic table and ripped a tendon, I think it was, which required some serious surgery. She was never the same after that.

She'd never been a particularly healthy dog. She'd had seizures as a puppy, and likely a blood sugar problem. She was medicated for most of her life.

We were similar, in that way. I've had health issues for most of my life, too, some serious scares along the way, and I felt like I could relate to her like no one else in the family could. Could relate to the fact that she would seem ashamed of being sick, and she would try so hard to hide the pain she was in, as not to be a burden.

I'm not sure anyone else ever got or saw that. Every single day I regret not spending more time with Zoe. It's been more than two years, now, and I still miss her, and I still wish I'd been a better friend.

Near the end we would have to crush her pills and mix them with some jam, and beg her to eat it. She'd try, she'd try so hard because she seemed to know so completely what was being asked of her, wanted so badly to please us, but sometimes she just couldn't do it. And she'd seem so ashamed to have disappointed us.

She was weak and sullen, and only 12 years old. We took her to the vet in the morning, and for the first time in months she actually seemed happy. And it broke and breaks my heart to think about that. She wanted to know where she was going, she was so excited to be going somewhere. She always did love car trips.

She bounded happily toward the door, despite the pain caused by her hip dysplasia. And as we sat with her she looked so innocent.

I cried so long after that. I miss Zoe so much, but I know we did the right thing. I'm sure she was never happier than when she was drifting off, no longer in so much pain.

I'd never seen my father cry before that.

I'd never cried so hard.

I truly loved her, and it pains me to think that sometimes I was mad at her, sometimes I'd get so angry when she wouldn't do what she was told. She didn't deserve that. She deserved a better friend than me.

I hope I'll miss Zoe for the rest of my life. I owe her that much.