Poor pup
Rest in Peace, Ruby.
She was a much beloved dog. We got her shortly after I turned 16 as one of those pets that we 'snuck past my dad'. Which is to say that we brought her home while Dad was on a business trip and thus had no say. It didn't matter in the end because he was just as enthused about having her as we were.
She saw me through all my anxious times in high school. She was next to me when I bawled my eyes out the first time I got my SAT scores back. She was there for me the summer before college when I was a complete anxious wreck. She made me feel safe in my house in a way that locked doors never did.
She was a reason to be outside, to take walks and enjoy just being in the moment. She was a good excuse to have time to talk and walk with one or both of my parents.
She was an excellent napping companion, and seriously, it's just not as much fun to nap in the middle of the afternoon if you don't have a dog curled up at your knees. She was one of the biggest things that I craved my first year of college when I was so utterly homesick but didn't want to admit to being homesick.
She had so much personality. She could make me laugh and want to play and just enjoy myself. She could also drive me nuts with the things she did, too, but even those made for great stories to tell.
She was just this really, really awesome dog and I'm really, really going to miss her.