Dear Myla,

It's Wednesday again, a Woofy Wednesday, and as I think of that, I stare at my screen and lose myself in memories for a moment. Memories of the past fourteen years, of the moment when my sister and I walked together at a fair festival and fell in love on a spontaneous whim with a little Malinois puppy from two strangers. We spoke to them, and soon we discovered that they had more puppies. An hour later, we were in the car on our way to Gemert in Brabant, and that same day you came into our lives.

The indelible impression you made on us in the first second has never changed. What a temper, such perseverance, so extremely sweet, and what a beautiful and strong character. And you have always kept that character, my lovely girl. Your perseverance is also keeping you going now, but unfortunately, I see you deteriorating. Every week I see how you lose a piece of your vitality. But despite that, you continue to show your indomitable spirit, a will to live that seems tireless.

Your presence is a source of joy and comfort

My little red rascal (now with a gray face), you still look at me happily with your faithful eyes. You still want to come along for a walk, and you still try to run. You're not running as fast as you used to, but in your mind, you're still very fast! It's so touching to see that every day. You still play outside with your friends Lana and Skipper, and more than anything else, you want to be with us. And believe me, your presence alone is a source of joy and comfort in my life. You've been through so much with me. But unfortunately, I also see the small signs of your declining health. And they are starting to pile up. Sometimes you refuse your food, your ears have slowly become deaf, and your hind legs have lost their muscle. Your balance has become shaky, and you've fallen over a few times in the past week when you were trying to flap your ears.

Fortunately, things are going a little better now, but the signs are clear. And that hurts. My heart breaks as I realize your body is failing you more and more. It hurts to realize that you, my once so strong Malinois girl, are no longer the strong dog you used to be. It's no longer possible for you to pull so hard on the leash that my arm looks three feet longer after a walk. Today I hold you back with a finger. You must be laughing now, but I wish you could pull the leash as hard as you always did.

We don't want to miss you yet

But let's keep up our hope now things seem to go a bit better again. Maybe last week's extreme heat was too much for you. And maybe I'll make myself happy with just a thought. Maybe it's a temporary revival, a glimmer of hope that warms my heart and that of my partner. We don't want to miss you yet, but we also have to be realistic. Deep down, we know that the time for our last goodbye to you is approaching. And even though we consciously push that thought away, we do cherish the time that we can still enjoy your presence even more than ever before. Yes, we are not crazy. We know that time slips through our fingers like the sand of an endless beach. But for now, we cherish every day, every summer sunbeam that falls on your beautiful red fur.

For fourteen years, you have enriched our lives with your unconditional love and cheerful spirit. You have always had a radiant presence, full of energy and strength. You were our rock, our companion through thick and thin. And now, as your body slowly weakens, we feel the weight of time on our shoulders.

But despite the inevitable reality of an impending farewell, we want to focus on the beauty you have brought us. You have had a beautiful life full of adventures, walks in the woods, and moments of pure bliss. You have filled our hearts with joy and enriched our lives with your unconditional love. Your memories will live on in us forever.

So while we're together this summer, we're taking the chance to cherish you even more. We hug you longer, so you know how much you mean to us. Every touch, every look, every moment is precious. You always have been loved, you always have been precious and you always have been cherished. But now more than ever, we want you to feel loved and surrounded by the warmth of our affection.

Grateful for you, your presence and your love!

And as I write this, I feel tears welling up in my eyes. Just the thought of having to let you go breaks my heart. But I know that I should also be grateful for the fourteen wonderful years we had the pleasure of spending with you. Grateful for your unforgettable smiling face, your faithful presence, and the unconditional love you have given, and still give us every day.

This summer will forever be etched in our memories as a time when we enjoyed you twice as much. Your wagging tail, your soft fur, and your heartwarming look will live on in our hearts forever. We will remember your love and zest for life even as time takes us further.

And so, as we cherish these summer days with you, we keep hoping for some extra time. Time to have you with us, to cherish you with love and care. The moment of farewell is inevitably approaching, but for now, we choose to enjoy every precious moment we have left.

You are an inspiration

Myla, my dear companion, you have enriched our lives in ways we could never have imagined. You taught us about unconditional love, finding joy in the simple moments, and perseverance in the tough times. You are an inspiration and we will love you forever.

So let's use this summer together to enjoy each other even more consciously, as we always have. Let's use this summer to share many more beautiful moments together that will turn into beautiful memories when you are gone.

And let's hope this summer will last forever!