Berlyn Komar

How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard..

Chester’s final days were filled with so many good treats, his favorite games, wagon pulls, family visits, and 24/7 hugs and comfort.

These 7 years with Chester had a lot of challenges but I’m so grateful that he chose us and that we were able to turn his rough start to life into something so amazing.

Watching a rescue dog learn how to be a dog, how to play, how to bark, and, most importantly, feel at home and feel unconditional love has been the best experience of my life. Year after year we watched Chester peel back the layers and become more confident and comfortable. I would always think he was “complete” but then he would do something new and completely surprise us. We absolutely did not know what we were getting into and felt overwhelmed at times but Chester made it so worth it. He was so gentle and kind and patient with us as we all learned how to do this together.

There were many heartbreaking moments these last couple of months but but these final weeks and hours of him seeking comfort from me showed me that I was able to create a safe and loving space for him. These velcro moments from a typically very independent boy are special memories that are going to be very hard to top.

Chester has been my entire life during our time together. It’s hard to think about how to even begin navigating each day without him here. As absolutely crushing as this feels, I feel so grateful to have lived a life with him and I would choose to do it again and again again.