Growing up I always heard the saying, “A dog is a man’s best friend.” I always thought that was a stupid saying because there is no way a dog can be your best friend. Well, little did I know, my dog would become my best friend. 

On my way home from a Girl Scout field trip I got a text from my mom saying that I had a surprise on the porch when I got home. I was expecting a new toy or something. But when I got home I found two golden retriever puppies. They were the cutest little puppies ever. 

I ended up naming them River and Roxy. My puppy was Roxy and my mom had River. Luckily we got them during quarantine, so I was able to spend every minute with them. Sadly Roxy passed away at 11 months old. So it was just us and River. 

Fast forward two years, it is still just me, my mom, and River. My mom swore up and down that River was her dog and I was her “sister”. I knew that River was mine but I couldn’t tell my mom that. She would follow me around the house all the time. My mom would call her and she would look at my mom and “side eye” her and walk to me. 

After Roxy passed away she developed really bad separation anxiety. So we ended up having to keep her in a crate anytime we left the house. If we left her out of the crate she would get into the trash or scratch at the doors. We weren’t able to leave her outside either because she would run away. We eventually taught her to not run away, which was easier than we thought it was going to be. 

River was always there when I needed her. If I had a bad day at school I would come home and just cuddle her. If I needed to rant to her I could, and she would just listen. That is when I realized she was my best friend. River would always follow me to the bathroom, room, outside, pretty much anywhere I went, River was there. 

After my parents died it was just me and River. When I first moved into my grandma’s house I knew I was going to be ok because I had my dog. She was able to tell anytime I was sad and would come and support me. She lets me hug her, dress her up, hold her, do anything I want because she knows it makes me happy. 

I now completely understand why a dog is a man’s best friend. I would not be where I am now if I didn’t have River. She is my best friend and I know she will be there for me anytime I need her. I know the day she passes a part of me will die with her. I am forever grateful that I have River and I always will be.