Anyone who has ever owned a pet knows they have the capacity for the kind of unconditional love that is seen otherwise only between a human and its offspring.

The gentle nudge of a wet nose or a lick on the hand comes when we're upset or feeling down. The bounding dash to the door to greet us is also a demonstrable sign of the strength of the human–canine bond.

Spyk did all of this and so much more. His love was unconditional and he was a complete goofball that could always cheer a person up. He loved his "mom" too. He may have loved the rest of the family too, but I know he loved me the...