Houston Chronicle columnist Joy Sewing adopted Ava while on assignment in 2013. Ava became a rockstar with children as she traveled across Texas on a book tour for Sewing's children's book, "Ava and the Prince: the Adventures of Two Rescue Pups." Ava died of complications related to a brain tumor.

On the day my dog Ava died my daughter insisted she needed to get to heaven to make sure Ava was happy.

It had been only a few hours since I had to say goodbye to my beautiful rescue boxer unexpectedly, and life already was unbearable. Our world was now strangely quiet. No more joyful noises of her snoring, whining for the smallest crumb of food or barking at the slightest sound.

Losing a dog, one that is family, is a hurt that you feel to the bone. Unyielding pain with a flood of tears.

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In the emergency room of the animal hospital, Ava’s sweet block-shaped head lay in my hand. She licked my fingers one last time, then gently let go of life.

The emptiness made me sick to my stomach. I wanted to get to heaven, too. See her deep chestnut eyes stare at me one last time and hug her massive chest that was soft and warm. She wasn’t the kind of dog to try to squeeze her big body on your lap; instead, she would lean all 65 pounds against your leg and expect you to rub her belly. If you didn’t oblige, she’d lean harder. It was her way of hugging.

Houston Chronicle columnist Joy Sewing appears with her boxer dog Ava at Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists on August 22, 2024. Ava died of complications related to a brain tumor.

Ava and I were destined for a........

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