Cody

Today our beloved Cody passed away. He was 9 years old, and the best dog anyone could ask for. He was Casey's best friend. The way one ear stood up and the other laid down made him who he was. He was kind and gentle, sweet and loving, and the protector of us all. He loved to cuddle and be close, something Casey instilled in him early on. We bought him a dog bed a few months ago so he wouldn't lay against the bed pillows we set on the floor. He used the bed maybe once or twice and spent the rest of the nights in the middle of the floor. I tripped over him many times, and would get annoyed, but now, I would be happy to trip over him every night just to have him back again. Casey and Cody would sleep together at night (until the bed got too crowded for the three of us), and take naps together on the floor. Cody was Casey's baby. When Cody came home from his surgery a few months ago, Casey spent the whole first night laying with him on the family room floor. Years ago, the pads on Cody's paws got all torn up on a hike we took near Boulder, and Casey carried him up to bed, outside to go to the bathroom, and over to his food and water dishes for a few days until he had healed enough. They were a pair never to be matched.
I can honestly say that I have never been too much of a dog person, but Cody had a way with you. He was so special to us all. There are so many things to say about him and I have no idea how to say them. One of my favorite things about him was how he got so excited when Casey came home from work. Over the last few years I became the one who let him out most of the time (even though I often forgot to let him in), fed him, watered him, but he always pledged his allegiance to Casey, no matter what. Casey loved him like no one could love a dog. They had a relationship that I have never seen between a man and his dog.
Cody was great with the kids, although not in the beginning, he grew to love Jacqueline. He didn't like to be climbed on, but he enjoyed being around them. He often visited the day care kids in the basement and would just lay on the floor to be around people.
I can't help but go over what happened and think about what I should have done, but that will do me no good, as I cannot go back and change anything that I happened.

Cody, you will be in our hearts forever and no dog will ever hold a candle to you. You were perfect in every way!