These stories are wonderful.

My dad called before he left work one day and told me he had a surprise. He came in the door and I didn't see anything in his hands. I asked him what the surprise was and a little white puppy poked his nose out of my dad's shirt pocket. I squealed with joy! I named the little spitz and poodle mix 'Casper' because he was all white like Casper the ghost.

Casper was instantly my best friend. He let me dress him up in doll clothes and we played all day. When my brother was born, I had some one to complain to about all the crying and the smelly baby. When my brother got older, he was his best freind too. I trained Casper how to beg for treats and my brother played catch with him.

When I was a teenager, Casper listened to me about who I had a crush on and how unfair life was.

Casper died a couple of years ago at the ripe old age of 20. He just fell asleep on his bed and never woke up. I cried for months.

The first dog I've ever owned is Valentine. She wandered onto the property as a puppy seven years ago and she's been my baby ever since. She's chow and who knows what else.