Fifteen years ago, a tiny Pomeranian named Gucci changed my life forever.

We were blessed to spend over half of my life together. We grew up together. Through every milestone, every heartbreak, every celebration, and every ordinary day, Gucci was by my side. She wasn’t just my dog. She was my soulmate.

What made Gucci so special wasn’t just how much I loved her. It was how deeply she loved everyone else.

She had an unbelievable gift for making people smile. Children adored her. Nervous people who were afraid of dogs somehow found themselves reaching down to pet her. Drunk college kids melted when she trotted over. She charmed the Secret Service agents protecting our governor. She comforted people who needed a little extra love in the hospital. She even managed to soften some of the toughest hearts imaginable. If a little Pomeranian could have solved world peace, I’m convinced Gucci would’ve found a way.

For eight years, Gucci came to work with me every single day at Only Natural Pet. She became part of the family there. Regular customers didn’t know my name. They knew hers. Being called “Gucci’s mom” is one of the greatest honors of my life. She greeted everyone with her signature smile before following shoppers around with her sparkly-eyed twirls until they inevitably fell in love. Then came her tiny, demanding bark that somehow convinced people to buy a treat not just for their own dog, but one just for Gucci, too. She had perfected the art of winning people over.

She may have weighed only 13 pounds, but no one ever told her that. She carried herself like she owned every room she entered, and the biggest dogs happily let her.

Last week, our world came crashing down. We exhausted every option available, spending over $9,000 trying to save Gucci because giving up on her was never something we could do. Despite every effort, we had to say goodbye to the sweetest soul we’ve ever known.

The grief has been overwhelming, but one thing that has brought me comfort is the opportunity to have a handcrafted lifelike memorial made of Gucci so I can always have a piece of her with me. It won’t replace her, nothing ever could, but it would be a beautiful way to honor the little dog who gave so much love to so many people.

If you knew Gucci, loved Gucci, or simply want to help ease the burden of her final medical expenses and memorial, any contribution, no matter the amount, would mean more than I could ever express. And if you’re unable to donate, the greatest way you can honor Gucci is by making an effort to brighten the day of every person you meet, just as she did every single day of her life.

Thank you for helping us celebrate a life that, despite fitting inside a tiny fluffy body, left an immeasurable mark on this world.

Forever loved. Forever my Gucci Girl.