Finally, they brought him out to me, wrapped in a blanket. He looked at me when I said his name. He tilted his head at the familiar sound before licking my nose in recognition

I knew Gizmo was the one the moment I laid eyes on him. It was October 2013, and Gizmo was a newborn chihuahua. He was hairless, with swollen eyelids, and the runt of the litter. I fell in love. Over the next couple of years, he was the perfect companion. Whether he was watching Grey’s Anatomy with me or licking my nose, Gizmo brought light to my life. I remember staring into his eyes – they were so distinct, with amber-coloured lines around the irises.

Gizmo loved spending time with our terrier mix Benji and our chihuahua Chapo in our home in Las Vegas, but his best buddy was my mom. She wasn’t a dog person, but she adored Gizmo, and would spoil him with Mexican rice.