I got a tiny little chocolate Labrador puppy named Avalon shortly after I turned 18. She had come as a total surprise, and we had bonded quickly. This little puppy became my service dog through intensive training and helped me regain my independence as my health got worse. Avalon went through 4 moves with me, 3 different partners, my high school graduation, and starting college. She was there for me through some of the hardest times in my life so far. In September 2024, we made the biggest move yet: we moved from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Amarillo, Texas. Almost 15 hours in a small car, with not a ton of room to move around. Avalon slept through the whole thing, waking up when we stopped so she could do her business. When we got to Texas, I was supposed to have a job lined up and waiting. That job ended up not working out because the company stopped responding to my messages while we were on our way here. We ended up homeless until almost November 2024. Avalon was my rock through it all. We went on side quests, adventures, and just kept ourselves busy. When we got into our place, new challenges showed themselves. The property had a lot of stray animals wandering onto it at all times. Avalon got attacked in Walmart and could no longer be my service animal. She started helping train my SDIT on how to do her job. I returned home from my new job on June 13, 2025, to find my best friend gone. She had gotten herself tangled while I was away, and it took her life. I was heartbroken, and still am. We called the Rainbow Bridge and left a voicemail around 12 o’clock at night. The next morning, we brought our baby girl over, and they got us taken care of. I cried like a baby in the car after we left. The lady we had spoken with was so kind and compassionate during a very difficult time. She explained the entire process and allowed my spouse and I a few moments to say goodbye to our girl before she was taken to be processed. We got the call a week later that Avalon was ready. The box she was returned to us in is simply beautiful. They took fur clippings so that I could always remember in great detail the pattern of her fur. A clay pawprint now hangs on the wall above her favorite nap spot. Fly high and raise hell, Ava Rose.