Let me tell you a little bit about my best friend, Cinch.... I got Cinch from some Craigslist stranger back in 2009 who originally got him from the shelter and was going to return him. They wanted me to pay $100 for him and being a broke college student I said no way!! They ended up making the great decision to just give him to me. My parents were not happy that I got a dog while I was in college lol I didn't realize it at the time that Cinch was going to be the best thing that has ever happened to me because he was a typical annoying pup. He would chew and whine and bark. He annoyed my roommates so much from the constant whining while I was gone, that I ended up just taking Cinch to class with me. He would sit in my truck while I went to my classes... any time I had an hour break I would go back and hang out with him/ take a nap. He practically grew up in a pickup due to this and traveling the rodeo road. I really wanted Cinch to be some rough and tumble "cow dog" when I first got him. But anyone that knew Cinch knew he put on a tough guy face at times but was actually quite the softy and sweet boy. He even was dubbed the name "Princess" because he could be such a dainty boy. But I loved him anyways. Cinch has literally been around for 1/3 of my life. He survived college with me, moves, jobs, job losses, relationships, break ups... He was my rock. He was my unconditional love. My everything. I can't even begin to put into words the relationship and the bond we had. I think if you knew Cinch and I well enough, that you saw it. We were joined at the hip. I would literally bring him everywhere I could. He especially loved Whipsaw Brewing. We had so many adventures together. Hiked many miles together and saw some amazing things. He was obviously my favorite photography subject. Anyone who was Snapchat friends with me would get bombarded with Cinch photos. Mostly of him using snoozing with a pillow.. he loved his pillows! Cinch was such a smart boy. You could see it in his eyes. He was a dog that was not scared to look at you in the eyes. But you could see he had a calm soul. Did not have a mean bone in his body. I was not worried about Cinch being around small children, new animals, or new places. Cinch loved watching TV. He could easily recognize animals on TV, videos, and photos. He also loved to Skype!! So much he even recognized the sound of when a call came in, whether through my laptop or even on TV! He would prop himself right in front of my laptop and look right at the person on the other side. He would usually whine and then get so excited he would have to grab a toy (probably a stuffed cow or a cat toy, his favorite) to curb his excitement. The level of brilliance this dog was incredible. He knew so many tricks and he was so easy to teach. We even did agility for a summer and he picked up on it so quickly. He wanted to please. He did ridiculous things just to make me happy. I will never have another dog like Cinch. It's impossible. He was truly a special being. I am so blessed to have had such a relationship and bond with a dog. He showed me what love was. I have talked about this day before... how his passing will be the worst day of my life. But never did I think it was going to happen the way it did. I expected old age.... He was supposed to be part of my wedding someday.... the ring bearer or something cheesy like that. Maybe be there for my first child.... be there for when I got another dog so he could help teach the new pup his wisdom... I have cried so much. Screamed in frustration for taking my best friend too soon. Wailed in the dead of night. A piece of me is gone. A large piece. I couldn't even be at home yesterday... it was just too painful to be here without him. I will miss coming home to him. The excitement and tail wags. The whimpers of joy that we were together again. I will miss his so very soft fur, even if his hairs went every where and attached to everything lol. I will miss the spark and brilliance in his eyes. The "hugs" he would give me. How he would "hold my hand" when we drove down the road. He was a once in a lifetime animal that will be missed by me and so many others. There is so much more to say but I am having a hard time seeing through my tears. Thank you to those that have changed their profile pictures of Cinch or shared some photos of him. It means so much to me. To know Cinch, is to love Cinch. <3