Dear Layla

Dear Layla,
I'm not sure why I'm writing this, since you couldn't read even when you were alive, but I felt it needed to be said. We have a few things to clear up between us.

Firstly, thanks. You were are loyal and incredibly gentle dog.
You somehow knew when I was upset, despite being fairly dense about most other things, and could generally be relied on to come over and put your paws on me as a form of comfort. If not, you at least put up with being cuddled with only the minimum of protest.
You also put up with being dressed up occasionally in humiliating outfits, usually made worse by the fact I'd made them so they didn't fit properly.
You would sit with me for hours in a tent in the garden while I went camping in broad daylight.
You put up with being showered with dirt in my archaeology attempts.
You put up with a whole load of other pets and extended the paw of friendship to all of them, even Zach who obviously found you slightly beneath him and the gerbils who I think you wanted to eat.
You would squeal and yelp yourself half to death when I returned home from university, and then follow me closely for the next few hours in case I dared to leave again. Thank you for your endless loyalty.

Anyway:
Sorry for calling you stinky so often. It was true, but probably mean.
Sorry for that time I sat on you when I was about ten. It really was an accident.
Sorry for the times we trod on your paws when you managed to fling yourself under our feet.
Sorry for using you as a foot rest/warmer. If it's any consolation, I do the same to Samuel.
Sorry for refusing to go near you after you chewed that rat, but it was a bit gross.
Sorry about that rabbit we used to have who would run his chain into you at full speed to break it. I don't think you actually noticed at the time.
Sorry I could never resist soaking you with the hose. You smelt even worse when soggy.
Sorry for that week I spent trying to teach you English. Obviously you weren't ready.

Also, I forgive you for that time you chewed my Star Wars lego into unrecognisable twisted shapes. I may have made some angry comment afterwards about liking the Lego more than you.
I apologise, it wasn't true.

All my love,
Rachel