This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Submit your own rescue story here. Your story just might be the next to be featured on our blog!

In 2007, we decided to get a dog, so we took a trip to the county animal shelter. There were dogs of every size, shape, and color. My husband had his heart set on a German Shepherd mix, but something told me to keep looking.

Finally, I saw this dog in the back of a kennel crowded with other dogs. He had the most expressive face, and as soon as he met my eyes, and I looked into that sad face, I knew that we had to meet him. The shelter staff let us take him out and walk him, and I sat down at the picnic table. He put both front feet on my lap and licked my face, and I knew that he had chosen us.

He was 3 years old, heartworm positive, not neutered, dog aggressive, food aggressive, and people aggressive. He had obviously been starved, abused, and neglected during his short life.

We just kept loving him, and over the years, he blossomed into the most amazing dog. He was amazing when our son was born, and amazing when we adopted two troublesome kittens. I have never loved an animal quite the way I loved him.

He passed away suddenly in August 2014 at the age of 10 due to cancer. Losing him and learning to live life without him again was the single hardest thing that I've ever had to do. I missed him every day - sometimes, so much that I couldn't breathe.

Some people say, "Get over it, he was just a dog." I want people to know that he wasn't just a dog. He was my best friend, my protector, my confidant, my snuggle buddy, and the only living being on Earth that was always happy to see me.

He may have just been a "mutt" and a "shelter dog", but he was my mutt, I loved him dearly, and I will miss him for the rest of my days.

Story submitted by Sharla Stewart from Atlanta, Georgia.

This story was originally shared on The Animal Rescue Site. Share your very own rescue story here!