Even though he was a dog he was my baby

Have you ever heard or used the saying "you looked like your best dog just died"? It was meant to be a joke right? Well, when your best dog has just died it's not that funny. No one said that to me, but they could have and they would have been correct. Sam died today. He was up on the road and he must have just stuck his big head out too far. Daddy and my youngest brother, who by the way turned 11 today, came home and told me that they found him dead up on the road.
It's not the same as when a person dies but he was my friend and they don't have to have an eternal spirit to be a friend. He is not the first dog that has gotten killed on that road.
I'm just going to miss him so much. Just last night he was trying to pass me going up the stairs to the front door. I'm going to miss how even though he weighed about 80 pounds he thought he was a lap dog and would climb up in your lap and go to sleep if you let him. I miss his big head and his soft floppy ears. I even miss his powerful tail that would constantly slap your leg every time you were around him. He always looked so happy. He didn't have any manners, but he was smart enough to learn how to leave the cats alone. He got along with everyone and if you stood still long enough he would sit down right on your feet.
We got him when he was a puppy and we brought him home in Momma's van. He threw up all over my next to youngest brother. I always called him my baby because he was; he was just a big baby. He would eat anything and he had this way of looking at you that just made your heart melt. I think he was about 3 or 4 years old. He was a good dog even with all of his quirks and peculiarities.
In the end though he is just a dog and dogs die. It doesn't mean it's not sad when it happens but death is a part of life and I think Sam had a good life. And even though he was a dog he was my baby and I will miss him.