Max & I came together after I moved out of my parents house when I was 18 years old. In my apartment I felt lonely and decided to go to the Boca Raton Animal Shelter (now the Humane Society).  I met Max and wanted to make an adult decision about adopting him. He was 3 years old... I remember taking him out of the dog run for the first time, he was SO EXCITED. They had a hard time getting the leash on him. When we went to walk, he was kicking and bucking like a Bronco! In trying to keep an adult frame of mind, I decided not to take him after the first visit, but to get my girlfriend to visit him also. That would give a second opinion and also show it was ment to be if he was still there.  Needless to say a day or two later I went back with my girlfriend and Max was anxiously waiting for me. The girlfriend liked him too. For $35.00 the adoption was complete.  Through the years Max was always with me through thick and thin, moving from apartment to apartment and even out to California. The 4 days we spent on the road going out there was a great memory, just the 2 of us. The ride back with the girlfriend of the time and her son was more memorable only because we have video footage.  Max was always particular about who he liked and disliked. He had no reservations about letting the indviduals know how he was feeling. Yet with me he was as gentle as can be. My friend Dave has a scar on his leg from one time when Max thought he was an intruder and bit him. We laughed about it at the time and laugh about it now. He knew Max ment no harm and Max's reaction once he realized it was Dave was priceless, the look on his face, then STRAIGHT to under the bed! (ha-ha). Meeting my wife was an episode too, the first time he met my step daughter he warned her off but cut her under her eye with his tooth. My wife was never a real dog person in general, but seeing her cry the day we had to put max to sleep and hearing her kind words about him make me know how he touched her soul as he did with so many others. Max was unique and had a personality of his own that drew people to love him without him even trying. Max holds a place in my heart most would think only another human being could. It is strong and true. Max's passing hurts everyday but I can only hope he is in a comfortable place waiting for me until we meet again. His ashes remain in a box in my wife and I's bedroom today with an 8x10 photo above it. Max will indeed never be forgotten.