Rusty was a dog I got 15 years ago when I was in my early 20s and had just been diagnosed with cancer. I had to quit my job and wanted a companion to be with me during the days and also to help me through all of the big scary moments to come. I fell in love with Rusty as soon as I saw him at the shelter and we were best friends ever since. He's been with me through cancer, marriage, divorce, remission, moves all across the country multiple times, different jobs and homes, another marriage, and finally when I found out that I was pregnant and into the first 6 months of my pregnancy. A week or so before Rusty passed, there was a moment of clarity we shared where he let me know that he was aware of the baby growing inside of me. He had been frantically pacing a lot throughout the night due to dementia and discomfort due to his kidneys and liver failing, but in this moment, he stopped mid-stride and came over to me. At this point he sniffed my stomach and laid his head down on it for a moment before falling back into dementia and pacing. I knew this was his way of telling me goodbye, and that he was comfortable leaving this earth, now that he was aware of the full cycle we had been through… he had come into my life when I was fearful of my own, and was now ready to leave, knowing that I was happy, healthy, and bringing new life into this world. I miss him every single day and my life feels void of so much joy now that he's gone, although I know there's more to come shortly when our daughter joins our family. Even still, I will always love him and miss him. Rusty was and will forever be my soul dog. He was the goodest boy, and the bestest friend I could have ever asked for.