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It's a sad day for my family.

My sister's Siberian Husky, Galahad, was put down. He was 11.

I've written about Galahad before. He was my "first dog." I hadn't spent any substantial amount of time with dogs before spending a summer living with my sister, brother-in-law and their two dogs, Gus and Galahad, when I was 21. Galahad and I had a love-hate relationship. He was the Alpha, and I was someone new entering his territory. But over the course of the summer, we became best friends.

As the years went on, when I visited my sister's house, Galahad and Gus both gave me the warmest greetings. I wrote about it before.

I am always greeted at the gate that sits next to their front door. Both dogs jump up with front paws on the gate so we can be face-to-face to say hello. I pet each one and Galahad gives me a kiss. Then once I enter the house, they enter through their doggie door and I can hear Galahad talking to me. He's a husky and is very vocal, sometimes sounding like a wolf howling. If I don't make my way over to their doggie area in the kitchen to say hello, Galahad will continue "talking" loudly, until I do.

You know the cliche on TV and in movies when someone passes, and a friend or loved one will remember their last interaction and how they wish it could have been different? I feel that way now. The last time I was at my sister's house visiting, I didn't say hello to Galahad. His usual beckoning of me to come say hello had stopped a few trips earlier. So when we got distracted with watching my son and nephews play, I didn't even think to go say hello.

I'm going to remember some of Galahad's best moments, though. And there are so many that I don't even know about.

• When both Gus and Galahad were given bones, Gus would immediately gobble his up. But Galahad would bury his in the backyard. And at a later time -- when Gus was completely finished with his bone -- Galahad would fetch his bone, and eat it right in front of Gus.
• The countless wild animals killed and dropped at the back door for my sister to find.
• His many escape attempts (and successes), including one round-up by animal control and brief stay at the animal shelter.
• His close relationship with his doggie-brother, Gus. They had been together since they were puppies and didn't like to be separated.
• The neighbors complaining to the cops about his night howling, therefore moving him and Gus inside at night.

And the list goes on.

Sir Galahad, you will be missed.