Lucky the First was a German Shepherd and Rottweiler mix. We acquired him from our neighbors, who had planned to abandon him in a remote area due to their inability to care for him. However, my mother intervened and said, "We'll take him." Quickly, I took the puppy from her and declared, "My doggie." His original name was Spud, but I renamed him Lucky. The following day, Lucky bit a hole in my ear because I did not wake up when he wanted me to. Lucky established his presence in our household by making it clear to everyone that I was his owner and he was my dog. He grew at an astonishing pace; one moment he was a puppy, and the next, he was a fully grown dog. During my youth, I never expressed my love verbally, even though I loved my family. One day, as we sat in the living room with Lucky beside me, he gave me a precious look, prompting me to say, "Lucky, I love you." This declaration shocked everyone, especially my mother, whose jaw dropped in surprise. Thus, Lucky taught me how to verbalize my affection. Lucky got along well with our other dogs, Bandit, Baby, and Molly. One day, my brother Michael and I took Lucky and Bandit for a walk. Suddenly, Bandit bolted, with Lucky following close behind. Fortunately, a young lady managed to grab their leashes and walked them back to us. One of my fondest memories of Lucky involves an incident with a supposed meter man. After my grandmother moved in with my uncle Tom, my mother requested the city to notify us before sending out a meter reader. One day, they failed to notify us, and my mother noticed a man who appeared to be a meter reader in my grandmother's backyard. She questioned him, and he simply responded, "Meter man." My mother grew suspicious, and Lucky began pacing back and forth. Suddenly, Lucky leaped over my grandmother's back fence like a deer and chased the supposed meter reader out of the yard. Watching him run from behind was amusing due to his bow-legged gait. As the man fled, I yelled, "LUCKY," and he promptly jumped back over the fence, prancing towards my mother with his chest puffed out. My mother, amused, asked, "What? Do you want a reward?" To this, Lucky howled in her face. Lucky and I shared a close bond, one that was evident when he saved me on seven occasions. A particularly memorable instance occurred when I was in the backyard, and my back suddenly locked up, rendering me immobile. I fell to the ground as it grew colder. Sensing something was wrong, Lucky ran to the back door and barked incessantly until my mother and Michael came out to help me into the house. Without Lucky's alertness, I might have developed pneumonia. As my mother applied Bengay to my back, I felt better, and Lucky stayed by my side until I could move again. Our bond deepened further after this incident. Therefore, when a seizure eventually took him to the big dog park in the sky, I was deeply saddened. However, my grandmother reassured me that her dog Baby helped Lucky cross the Rainbow Bridge.The bond I had with Lucky was later mirrored with three other dogs: Walker, Lucky the Second, and Kodiak. Before Lucky passed away, we visited the vet. The veterinarian asked if we wanted to put him to sleep, but my mother told me, "Honey, since he's your dog, it's your choice." I chose to give him another chance, and Lucky wagged his tail upon hearing my voice. I gave him a kiss before we left. The next day, my mother received the call informing us of Lucky's passing. When she told me, I felt my world shatter and collapsed to the floor. We went to the vet to say our final goodbyes, and I hoped in vain that he would wake up. I was devastated afterward and spent most of my time by his spot in the backyard, only going inside for necessities. As night fell, I looked up and saw Lucky's spirit, who seemed to ask, "Why are you sad?" I responded, "Lucky, I miss you." He then licked my face. I saw the spirits of Baby and my twin brother Joseph as well. Joseph said, "God told Lucky it was okay for him to come see you. Baby and I came with him." I hugged Lucky and told him I loved him. Then, I saw a bright light, and Joseph said, "We have to go back now. Come on, Lucky." Lucky gave me one more kiss before walking into the light with Baby and Joseph. This encounter reassured me that Lucky was safe. I believe my grandmother was right when she said that Baby helped Lucky cross the Rainbow Bridge. I still miss Lucky very much and take solace in knowing that when my time on Earth is up, he will be waiting for me at Heaven's gate.