Katie

My dog that I grew up with as a child was Katie, our golden retriever.  She was about as loyal of a dog as anybody could possibly wish for.  She was, essentially, our other mother when mom was at work.  Every morning when we would walk up to the bus stop, Katie was right by our side which happened to be right by a somewhat busy street.  Didn't matter to her.  She stayed with us until the bus arrived.  When it did arrive, Katie would sit and watch us get on the bus and she would literally stay there until she saw that we were all seated.  Then she would slowly walk away down back to our house or wherever she went until we got home.  When we were on our way home, she could hear the bus and she'd be at the bus stop waiting for us to walk us home.  Best. Dog. Ever.  She was also basically the neighborhood dog.  Everyone knew Katie and loved her.  She was kind and very social with people and with other animals.  Every once in a while she'd poop in someone else's yard which probably wasn't cool, but she pretty much claimed that whole area as her home.  Katie would walk with my brothers and I and friends to the park by our house.  Hardly ever leashed because she never left our side.  One of her favorite things to do at the park was to play fetch with her tennis ball.  Of course!  What started out as a lime-yellow, was ultimately a slimy brownish by the end of play time.  Her other favorite thing was climbing up the old-school ladder that led to the slide.  She'd be right behind or in front of one of us while she climbed straight up.  She'd position herself at the top of the slide with all four legs pressed against the sides of the metal slide and WHOOSH, down she'd go like a pro!  And she was!  She did this constantly.
She had crappy teeth because her "toys" were rocks.  She'd been hit by a car and walked away from it. Our neighbor didn't see her when she decided she wanted to stop by and say hi when he was practicing his golf swing and caught her right in the head.  She was freakin' unstoppable!!!  Until, of course, old age caught up to her and she ended up getting sick with cancer.  It was the first time I had been to a vet for a pet to put them down.  To be with my family to voluntarily help my dog, our friend, die.  I remember being in the room and Katie was lying down and my parents and brothers were there.  The moment the nurse came in with the syringe full of pink liquid and walked closer to Katie, I bolted out of the vet's office and out to our van as fast as I could in hysterical tears.  I just couldn't say goodbye.  I felt bad for abandoning her and my family, but for me...I couldn't do it.  My mom came to the van before the rest of the family to check on me and talk me through how peaceful it was and how much better it was for Katie.  Geez.  Good memories laced with a sad one.  Anyway, Katie was the kind of dog any kid would be lucky to have.  I know my family was.