Dear Lou,  We grew up together and every memory of my childhood has your small paw prints all over it. In the beginning, we feared the puppy who would nip at our feet as we ran away. Who would’ve thought that instead of screaming, we’d be laughing as you tried yanking our socks off our feet in a couple of weeks. Full of energy, you played with all three of us for hours at a time and when bedtime rolled around, you’d follow us to go night night. In pictures we see you age, transform from an energetic puppy to an old grump.An old grump who’d bark and growl at strangers who got too close. The best type of protection a kid could have.To others, it may seem like you were not the kindest and sometimes it would seem true. You remember what you used to do, don’t you?When we began to crowd you, you’d all of sudden yawn and that disgusting breath of yours could clear a football field. Not to mention all the times you’d show us your teeth when we would get too close to your toys.Yeah, you weren’t always nice, but you may still be one of the best that I know. When kids came over that pulled on your tail, pulled on your ears, you would stay still and take it like a champ. You’d follow Moses anywhere he tugged you along whether it was the bathroom, the basement, even the bed. We all knew you were always by his side.  Nine, almost ten, years we had, you and I. The day that we lost you was the first time I saw my dad cry.I’m sure you remember but your body began to fail you. Your heart grew twice its normal size, including your lungs.Your mouth was also to the point where you couldn’t eat, I’m so sorry I never noticed all the weight you lost. The doctor told us your kidneys had began to fail. I’m so sorry we never noticed your pain but you hid it so well. Even to this day I can’t not cry when I think of all you had to go through on your last days. The lump in my throat hurts when I remember. The medicine we bought did nothing for you, it was already too late.It would be inhumane to let you suffer anymore than you already had so the decision was made to put you down. Pa had to leave work early so he could come and say goodbye to you, I remember him telling you that were such a good boy. Before we put you on the table to end your suffering, you paused and slowly looked at Aimee, Moses, and I. It was as if you knew this was it and were saying goodbye. I remember all five of us crying as you stopped breathing, we barely noticed the vet leaving. It was, and still is, one of the worst pains we went through.  I cry when I remember, I think I always will.I loved you like family, like my own brother. We couldn’t afford your ashes at that time, it still haunts my pa that we couldn’t have you close. All five of us mourned quietly in our home, and the puppy you were with for only two months kept trying to look for you.  The first months without you were hard, it was strange not seeing you lay by the fireplace. Moses had slept you with every single night, we all knew how badly he struggled the first nights.Ma couldn’t look at another beagle without crying, pa had to drag her out of Petco two times.We still have your collar, I found it the other day and Aimee immediately brought it up to her nose. Your scent was no longer there.We still have your leash around the tree, the red color is gone and the metal is all rusted. The first couple of days, we kept crying and couldn’t bring ourselves to cut it. A couple years ago when cleaning out the basement, we found bones that you hid.  We all laughed when we found your little stash. I have your paw prints still painted on my closet door, there’s also purple prints on the basement floor. It’s funny how clearly I remember the grumpy look on your face as pa dipped your paws in the paint.  It’s been four years, going on five, since you haven’t been with us. We still talk about you and we’ll never forget you. Did you know Aimee got a tattoo for you? It’s your paw with your birthday and the day that you died, she jokes of how if we ever forget to turn to face her back and look, there it is.We now have four dogs and one was born the same day you died. We made sure that her name would to start with an L. She has pretty eyes but they do not compare to yours.It’s your eyes that I remember most of all, your eyes that glowed like the sun. There were different colors that mixed and swirled and to this day, I have never seen eyes that are as beautiful as yours. I love you and miss you terribly.  Yours truly,    Naomi P.S.  Don’t stress, you will be tattooed on my body too.   P. P. S. Don’t stress, no other dog has, nor will ever, have any of your nicknames.