Matty Puglas McFly came home a few days before Christmas 2005. He was the last pup of his litter and the only black puppy. As soon as he walked into the room it was instant love. His little curly black tail wagged as his tongue licked my face. I just knew he was coming home with me. From that day on he was attached at my hip. Anywhere I went he went. The first few days were the hardest as we both had separation anxiety while I was at work. I always would come home with a new toy. He was ever so well mannered. He loved his car rides and going to visit grandma and grandpa and the family Pug Princess. He loved his long walks, his daily teats, and his housemate Spanky (cat).

As he grew up, he graduated puppy and obedience training and was just a great dog. His health was never an issue, only having to make an emergency trip to the vet once during his 13 years. He loved to go camping on the weekends with me and would always find a way to climb into the sleeping bag or wedge himself in between my legs to stay warm. If you tried to move he’d just let out a small snort and his typical pug sigh as if you were inconveniently moving him.

He formed a very strong bond with my mom (his grandma) and the family Pug Princess. When Princess passed away, Matty was visiting my parents while I was at college. He knew something was wrong and stayed with Princess and my mom until she passed. When my parents adopted a new puppy – Abby, Matty adopted her as his new sister. They soon became inseparable and would share toys and have to go on walks together. They bonded so well that Matty spent a lot of this time with grandma so he could play with his sister.

This past August I went down the property I own in the southern tier for the weekend. Matty came along, as did my mom. He loved it there. It was his fave place to run around and roll around in the grass and bark at everything he could possibly find to bark at. He never cared for sticks, but would play fetch with his giant gorilla or octopus toy. After he chewed the squeakers out of them.

I didn’t know that his camping trip in August would be his last, or my mom’s. Two weeks later my mom became very ill and was hospitalized. Her health faded very quickly as her heart was failing and the doctors only gave her a few weeks. On September 20th, mom passed away early in the am with me by her side. Later that day, Matty just shy of turning 13 years old was rushed to the vet as his back end had become paralyzed. The vet advised he had a ruptured disc in his spine. The only option would be to operate immediately to repair the disc with no guarantee he would be able to walk, or even survive the surgery. Shortly after Matty passed in my arms and was able to give me a goodbye kiss. I know he knew grandma was gone and he didn’t want her to be alone so he felt it was his time to go to. I lost two best friends that day, my mom and Matty. I can’t imagine not having him around every day, and it’s been hard. A dog is truly man’s best friend. He was my child for almost 13 years. He had a wonderful life, and he was loved so unconditionally and he knew it. He’s now over the rainbow bridge watching mom for me. I love you pug butt.