Austin made me a dog mama. He was there by my side when we brought our three babies home for the first time. He was such a loyal and loving companion to all of us and made the kids true dog lovers at their earliest ages. When he left us, I didn't know I was capable of being so sad. Painting this of him in his usual spot watching the world go on around him was incredibly therapeutic. I cried through much of it but loved studying his eyes, graying fur, and all his familiar features. Austin passed away from cancer in 2015 at the age of twelve. I'm thankful for every day we had with him.