Parker

My brother is my hero.

On Saturday night, his dog Parker was hit and killed by a car. Just writing those words hurts. Parker was a wild child -- the Pit Bull in him made him way energetic and prone to running -- but both the Pit and the Labrador in him made him the sweetest, most affectionate dog. The few times I met him, I saw how he made everyone grin with his wild antics and foot-sitting. He had such love and such life.

I couldn't write about it until now. The pain my brother suffered -- there aren't words.

Today he adopted a two-month-old puppy from the Escondido Animal Shelter. And he gave him the name I would give my own dog. He named him Jake.

I think Parker is somewhere out there watching, and he's happy.