“The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter whom he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us—those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name—may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it most. A man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolute, unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world—the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous—is his dog.

Because of Gandhi and his unwavering love and presence in my life I’ll never be the same without him.”

I’m here today to honor the life of not just a dog, but one of the best souls I’ve ever known—my best friend for 13 years, my gentle giant, my shadow, my comfort, and the best listener I could’ve ever asked for, Gandhi. And even though there might be 600,000 words in the human language, I still struggle to find the right ones to describe what an impact he’s had on my life.

Born on February 22nd, 2012, he came into my life at a time when, if I’m being honest, I probably wasn’t even responsible enough to have him. But thanks to family support, my amazing grandparents Sharon and Warren Bovard and a whole lot of love, he didn’t just become my dog—he became a part of the entire family. And now, as we say goodbye on February 25th, 2025, we do so knowing he lived a full, love-filled life, touching everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

He was everything good in this world wrapped up in a big, affectionate, beautiful, four-legged package. He loved attention, and if you weren’t giving it to him, he’d make sure you did. He believed no hand should be empty of fur, no face should go unlicked, and no moment should pass without love and laughter. He comforted when you were sad, celebrated when you were happy, and somehow, always knew exactly what you needed. Even though we didn’t speak the same language we learned to read one another’s thoughts and I could tell you what each of his barks meant or even judge his facial expressions on what he was feeling. His soul was always present.

To those who judged him for being a Pitbull—well, he showed them what he was really about. Not once did he ever growl, not once did he bite or ever show any aggression toward another child, adult or animal. He even let small dogs attack him on a rare occasion and never bit or fought back. He was, simply put, a true gentleman. He was intelligent, eager to please, and maybe a little too sensitive at times—because if he thought he disappointed you, it absolutely crushed him. He loved kids, other animals, long walks, playing in the creek, car rides, and of course, his absolute favorite thing—food. He loved playing and wrestling with anyone who would allow him the pleasure and especially loved it when Toby Hughes rough housed with him or took him on adventures, they had a special bond as well. Given enough time everyone who knew him fell in love with his amazing personality. He loved waiting and watching for the school bus to arrive and the children to visit. He had a special bond with Brianna Hughes, Caleb Hughes, Caden Bovard and Kiersten White and had the honor to see them grow from small children to young adults. He even got the opportunity to babysit and play with Brantley Roberson in his old age and loved giving him rides and kisses. He finally found a father figure that he had always longed for in Paul Nixon-McCready and Paul quickly became his favorite new leader of the pack. He had two mothers in his life me as well as Sharon Bovard and we always tried to spoil him as much as he spoiled us.

For 13 years, he saw me at my best and my worst, and through it all, he never left my side. When the world felt like too much, he reminded me that I was enough. And if I ever forgot, he’d be right there, tail wagging, eyes full of love, telling me in his own way, “You are the most beautiful person in the world to me.” He was my security guard, my cuddle bug, my partner in everything, my best friend.

It’s hard to say goodbye to someone who has been such a constant, unwavering presence in my life. But if there’s one thing I know, it’s that he wouldn’t want us to be sad. He’d want us to remember the love, the laughter, the adventures, and, of course, the belly rubs. So today, let’s not just mourn his passing—let’s celebrate his life. Let’s remember the joy he brought, the love he gave, and the lessons he taught us about loyalty, kindness, and unconditional love.

Rest easy, my sweet boy. You were the best there ever was. And if heaven has a creek, a long road to ride on, and a big steak waiting for you, I know exactly where I’ll meet you next. 

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