Rest assured your 'best friend' is waiting for you on the other side. Lost our Rocky Dog 4 1/2 years ago, and I still cry when I think of him... which is almost everyday.
2009 Kubota RTV 900, 2009 Kubota B26 TLB & 2010 model LS P7010
Sorry to hear of your loss. I really dread when that day comes for our German shepherd. He is 5 3/4 years old in human years now so hopefully we will have him for several more years, but just thinking about it hurts. It will be like loosing a child.
It is so unfair that our dogs do not live for 50 years ... or more!
Our white English Lab is already 10, and we adopted him at 3-1/2.
There is NOTHING like a dog!
Hopefully you will consider another.