"My dog Moose is growing older and I've noticed him start to slow down," Jessika told Bored Panda. "As he was laying in bed with me one night, I began to cry thinking about how much my life would change without him. He has been like a shadow to me. Something you don't notice every moment, but is always quietly there on your heels."

"He has been with me my entire adult life. When I was learning how to be alone, he was there so I didn’t have to be. When writing down my thoughts, the words just flowed out of me as I truly do cherish him and everything he has gone through with me over the years. It seems odd to think that there will be a time that he will not be there for a major event in my life as he has been for all of the others."

Jessika's post inspired people to share their own stories about this subject:

1. "I appreciate every day I have with her"

My Sofia will be 17 on Sat. You don’t realize that there will be so many lasts-last walks, last time she’s able to walk up the stairs, or jump off the couch. We adapt but watching her hurt, seeing her personality fade. It’s so hard. I appreciate every day I have with her.

2. "I miss him so much."

 Fletcher was by my side through 3 homes, 3 other dogs, my wedding, deaths of dear friends and family members, a human brother, and every anxiety attack that ever crossed through my body. We said our final goodbye April 2018. He was 18. I miss him so much.

3. "I cherish every moment with my girl!"

A Saint Bernards life expectancy is 8 to 10 years. Belle is almost 12 every day with her is a blessing! She had surgery 4 years ago and they told me she maybe had a year left! I cherish every moment with my girl!

4. "I’ll love you forever Sango"

My soul mate... she made it 14 years and passed away last June. My life hasn’t been the same since. I’ll love you forever Sango

5. "Don't even want to imagine life without him."

Absolutely correct. Chappy is 13.5 and now totally deaf. I'm so glad I taught him hand signals along with voice. He understands things anyhow. Almost instinctively knows what I want and i know what he wants because so many things became routine for him. If I spin around, he knows it's dance time. Don't even want to imagine life without him. He's traveled around the country with me, went to college with me, and most recently licks the tears from my face that I shed from losing my son and snuggles with me. They are a great comforter. They are special!!

6. "We are all heartbroken"

 My grand dog, Rocky, passed away this morning. He was a shelter rescue in Michigan and the sweetest little guy. We are all heartbroken

7. "I don't know what my life will look like when she's gone..."

My old lady just turned 17, and I could swear I just got her a couple of years ago. The years...they go fast. She's seen me through relationships, apartments, our house (which I bought so she could have a yard) and everything from my late twenties to mid-forties. I don't know what my life will look like when she's gone, but until then, I'm loving her pretty hard

8. "I saved him a few months after my husband died. He's been saving me ever since."

This is my Hank.

I don't know exactly how old he is because he was a middle of the road rescue.

He was starved and abused to the point that my vet said the best he could do age wise was a guess.

He's somewhere between 4 and 8 years old.

I saved him a few months after my husband died.

He's been saving me ever since.

I'll be his mom 3 and a half years this June.

I hope they've been the best years of his life

9. "He's doing pretty good for an a old man."

My Harley. Got him as a rescue when he was 1. Just turned 12. He's doing pretty good for an a old man. But, we know he only has a few more years, so we're making the best of it.

10. "The best part of my life. They have been by my side for 10 years and I hope to be blessed with many more"

11. "He gave us 15 years of happy love"

Our sweet Monty passed away two weeks ago. He gave us 15 years of happy love and we did love on him every day, knowing his time with us would always be too short

12. Bailey

15 year old Bailey.

It’ll break my heart when he is no longer here

13. "It's wild to me how dogs just know when it's the end."

This was Roxy on her last day. She was surrounded by her pack. It's wild to me how dogs just know when it's the end. She was 15 died two weeks ago.

14. "My ride or die girl almost 2 years post-cancer-diagnosis and so thankful she's still by my side."

15. "Oh my heart Sadie will be 12 this year and I cherish every day I have left her"

16. "She still gives great snuggles"

 Our first baby, she'll be 10 in a few weeks. She picked my husband all those years ago. She has dementia and forgets where she is and who we are sometimes but she still gives great snuggles