Charlie the golden retriever was "the best boy" and a huge part of Sallie Gregory Hammett's family since he was an 8-week-old puppy.
Hammett was devastated when Charlie died earlier this month after a five-month battle with lymphoma cancer. He was 7.
Scroll to the end of this story for a ranking of this year's 25 most popular dog breeds ... and the rarest
After a few days of crying, she decided to write Charlie's obituary to help sort through her feelings.
"I also just wanted to have somewhere to remember all of his little quirks and the weird things about him," she told CNN.
Hammett thought about having the obituary published in her local paper, but it was pretty expensive.
Instead, she posted it on her social media accounts and figured that her family and a few friends would enjoy reading it.
I wrote my dog an obituary because of course I did. He was the best boy. pic.twitter.com/FKmqeivtq9
— Sallie Hammett (@SallieGHammett) September 22, 2020
But then the creator of the popular Twitter accounts WeRateDogs and Thoughts of a Dog shared the post on his personal account.
It went viral -- with more than 100,000 likes and thousands of comments.
A beloved companion who saw 'good in everyone'
Hammett said she was overwhelmed by the sweet, comforting responses to the obituary.
She wrote that Charlie was her constant companion and "was always there to greet her with kisses and a firm grip on her arm."
"He was good at at lot of things, but he was best at unconditional love," she wrote. "He taught everyone he met about loving people and always seeing the good in everyone."
Hammett, 30, was single when she got Charlie, and her friends always asked if he approved of her suitors when she would go on dates.
Charlie loved everyone, so the real test was how her date felt about him.
David passed with flying colors, and Hammett and he got married in May.
"He loved him as much as I did, which I didn't think was possible," she said.
Charlie would pick up a stick on every walk and Hammett said he would just about drag her towards any water he could find -- be it a lake, river the ocean or a fountain in their hometown of Greenville, South Carolina -- and jump right in.
He loved peanut butter and would come running from across the house when he heard Hammett peel her morning banana. She always saved him the last bite.
"When you put the peanut butter on the banana, I mean you would think It was just the best day of his life," she said.
One last adventure before saying goodbye
The one thing he didn't like was stairs.
"We never could figure out why, but he just needed a lot of encouragement to go upstairs," she said, adding that the 80-pound pup once had to be carried up four flights of stairs when he was "being especially stubborn."
Hammett said she knew Charlie wasn't doing well at the end, so they took him for one last adventure before they had to put him to sleep.
"He spent his last days in his favorite place, the beach," she wrote. "He relaxed in the Charlie-sized holes he dug himself and dove straight into the oncoming waves. His last days were so happy and will be cherished forever."
Hammett said their home seems pretty empty without Charlie, so she and her husband plan to adopt another dog soon.
The 25 most popular dog breeds in America this year ... and the rarest
25. Shetland sheepdogs

Conrad, the Shetland sheepdog, competes in the Best in Show contest during 144th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
24. Pomeranians

Jubao, a 2-year-old Pomeranian, opens her mouth before entering the competition stage during the Thailand International Dog Show in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, June 29, 2017. The dog show is held from June 29 until July 2. (AP Photo/Kankanit Wiriyasajja)
23. Bernese Mountain Dogs

A Bernese Mountain Dog competes with the working group at the 143rd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in New York. Wilma, a boxer, won the working group. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
22. Havanese

Bono, the Havanese, competes in the Best in Show contest during 144th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
21. Boston terriers

A Boston terrier named Mango relaxes after winning best of opposite sex at the Westminster Kennel Club show in New York, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
20. Shih Tzu

Maylee, a shih tzu, wears a Seattle Mariners ribbon in her fur as she is held by her owner, Samantha Paz, as they arrive at Safeco Field, Tuesday, May 24, 2016, in Seattle, for the first of several "Bark at the Park" nights where dogs are welcome in a special section of the ballpark, before a baseball game between the Mariners and the Oakland Athletics. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
19. Doberman Pinschers

Mobius Mancus, Doberman pinscher, keeps an eye on his handler in the benching area during the 141st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
18. Miniature schnauzers

A miniature schnauzer is shown in the ring during the terrier group competition at the 140th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
17. Great Danes

Dog, a great dane, bottom, waits for other dogs to compete with the working group at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)
16. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

This Saturday, March, 4, 2017 photo shows Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's as they compete for best in breed at the Annual Kennel Club of Beverly Hills Dog Show at Pomona Fairplex in Pomona, Calif. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
15. Siberian huskies

Ella, a Siberian Husky, stands with her owner, Tracey Conway, second from right, during a protest, Thursday, March 7, 2019, at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
14. Boxers

Wilma, the boxer, competes in the Best in Show contest during 144th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
13. Australian shepherds

Australian shepherd "Boca" competes in the masters agility Championship during the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)
12. Yorkshire terriers

A woman transports a Yorkshire Terrier dog during the International pedigree dog and purebred cat exhibition in Erfurt, Germany, Sunday, June 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
11. Dachshunds

Samira, left, and Scarlett, 8-week-old Dachshund puppies, play in the grass, Monday, June 18, 2018, in Wilmington, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
10. Pembroke Welsh corgis

A pembroke Welsh corgi is shown in the ring during the Herding group competition during at 140th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
9. German shorthaired pointers

In this Feb. 13, 2018 file photo, German shorthaired pointers wait to enter the ring during the 142nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
8. Rottweilers

In this March 21, 2017 file photo, Talos, a Rottweiler, poses for photos as the American Kennel Club's breed rankings are announced in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
7. Beagles

A rescued beagle peers out from its kennel at the The Lehigh County Humane Society in Allentown, Pa., Monday, Oct. 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
6. Poodles

Siba, the standard poodle, competes for Best in Show during the 144th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
5. Bulldogs

Georgetown mascot Jack the bulldog rides in a toy car on the court during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game between Georgetown and the Villanova, Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
4. French bulldogs

In this Oct. 7, 2007 file photo, Lola, a French bulldog, lies on the floor prior to the start of a St. Francis Day service at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, which included the Blessing of the Animals. (AP Photo/Tina Fineberg, File)
3. Golden retrievers

Daniel, the Golden Retriever, competes in the Best in Show contest during 144th Westminster Kennel Club dog show, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
2. German shepherd

FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2017, file photo, Rumor, a German shepherd, poses for photos after winning Best in Show at the 141st Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File)
1. Labrador retriever

In this Feb. 8, 2020 file photo, Tag, a Labrador retriever weaves, through a series of poles during Westminster Kennel Club's agility competition in New York. Labrador retrievers remain the nation’s most popular purebreds for a record-extending 29th year. That's according to American Kennel Club rankings being released Friday, May 1, 2020.(AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)
And the rarest breed ... English foxhounds

The English foxhound is the rarest breed in the new rankings. The sizable, high-stamina and vocal hounds have a long history in the U.S. but aren’t often found as purely house pets. Fans tend to deploy the dogs for their traditional, pack-hunting purpose.
“It’s a beautiful breed. I just don’t think people see them enough to know about them,” says AKC spokeswoman Brandi Hunter.
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