Pet Loss

Warning: grab the tissues.  When musician John Pointer wrote and shared an essay about the day his beloved Boxer Benny passed away–from Benny’s point of view–he did it to process his own grief. But little did he know that the story would be circulated world-wide, being translated into multiple languages. When asked what sparked the idea for the essay, John told iHeartDogs: It just didn’t make sense. [Benny] was the Energizer Benny. Nothing stopped him. I couldn’t comprehend it. And I was devastated. I … Read more

The last known surviving search dog following the attacks of 9/11 was given the good-bye of a hero as she was laid to rest. Bretagne, a Golden Retriever, had lived an impressive 16 years–almost 17, as her birthday was in August. This brave yet gentle soul will always be known for the heroism she displayed in the aftermath of disasters, including the terrorist attacks of September 11th, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and more. As she grew older, she began working with children to … Read more

Sports fans will surely recognize Scott Van Pelt from ESPN’s SportsCenter and his work as a golf correspondent. Those with a keen eye may also recognize his beloved dog Otis from Van Pelt’s Covid-era live casts. The Rhodesian Ridgeback was a constant presence in the host’s home office, visible on screen just over Van Pelt’s right shoulder in his favorite leather chair. The Van Pelt family said their final goodbyes to Otis last week after what the sportscaster indicated was … Read more

“Max the Miracle Dog” was a famous Springer Spaniel who documented his adventurous walks on social media. He and his canine siblings, Paddy and Harry, raised thousands of dollars for charity throughout Max’s life. Even in his senior years, Max was happy and optimistic about his famous walks. But sadly, the 14-year-old pup recently slowed down to a point where he wouldn’t get better. His humans were devastated, but they had to say goodbye. A few weeks after his death, … Read more

Death is a difficult situation for anyone to cope with, but sometimes, dogs take it even harder than we do. They don’t understand where their loved ones went, so they sometimes suffer from sudden behavioral changes. Thus, finding ways to comfort them during loss is crucial. Two Golden Retrievers named Watson and Kiko were inseparable for many years. Despite being younger, Watson always looked out for Kiko and gave him hugs to cheer him up. Now that Kiko has passed … Read more

The world has lost a beautiful canine soul. Aladdin, 2017 American Humane Hero Dog award winner, State Farm’s “Kindness is Powerful” ambassador, and beloved therapy dog, passed away this week. Laddy was all these things and so much more. He was a survivor, a hero, and most of all, a friend to all who knew him. Aladdin overcame a life of abuse and neglect to become a source of inspiration both in-person and online to his 34,000 Aladdin Nation followers. … Read more

No matter what happens, dogs are a part of the family. We can always see the good in our furry friends, which is why most dog parents strive to work on training their pups. Yet, the world doesn’t always see our dogs as the angels we know and love. And when it comes to Pit Bulls, many people assume the worst faster than they would for any other dog. Toya Stewart’s Pit Bull Hazel had some aggression problems toward strangers, … Read more

No matter how old a dog is, their death will always be jarring and heartbreaking. It’s hard to accept that the moment before they’re put down is the last time they’ll be with you on Earth. Luckily, most vets understand how soul-crushing this experience is, so they try to be as comforting as possible. One vet went above and beyond to make sure a grieving family got the closure they needed. After they said goodbye to their 18-year-old dog named … Read more

Despite the many differences between dogs and humans, both species grieve similarly. We might not realize it, but our dogs are often just as heartbroken after the loss of a family member. They might not understand the situation as well as we can, but they can tell that a loved one is gone. A Beagle named Lola proved to her mom that she understands loss better than people give her credit for. The family recently said goodbye to their senior … Read more

If you order gifts online, there’s a possibility they might not arrive for Christmas. However, there’s also a chance that someone might steal them if they sit on your porch too long. But not all packages have a monetary value. Some are only special to a certain family, making them irreplaceable. A family in Mishawaka, Indiana, expected to receive their dog’s ashes for the holidays. They didn’t think much of it when the package failed to arrive in time, but … Read more

On the day her Boston Terrier named Boosie was going to be put down, Julianna Lopez made a special order at a Topeka Longhorn Steakhouse. She included a note that read, “This is my dog’s last meal. Please make it with love.” Restaurant staff got emotional reading the message, so they went above and beyond. Not only did they include the tasty meal Lopez had asked for, but they added a special surprise too. Thanks to the efforts of these … Read more

Alexandra Bonfiglio was devastated when her Golden Retriever named Stella died unexpectedly. It was one of the saddest moments of her life, and she realized that many other pet parents around the world go through similar situations every day. After creating a beautiful memorial for her beloved dog, she wondered if she could help make a difference for other grieving dog lovers too. So, Bonfiglio created a non-profit called Stella’s Angels, where she creates personalized memorial stones to gift to … Read more

There are many responsible and qualified dog groomers out there, but unfortunately, not all groomers are required to go through professional training or earn certifications. Without that special knowledge about dog care, it’s much easier for accidents to happen. One family is devastated after a horrific grooming experience, so they’re begging for the grooming laws to be less lenient. The Dion family dropped their dog Piper off at Bow Wow Boutique in Fort Myers, Florida. Only ten minutes later, their … Read more

In 2010, a small dog named Kiko saved his dad’s life, but at the moment, it didn’t seem like it. Jerry Douthett screamed for his wife Rosee to come help him one night. When she entered the room, she saw that Jerry’s toe was gone and Kiko’s mouth had blood in it. It might sound like a horror story, but if Kiko hadn’t done it, Jerry would’ve died. Kiko’s quick thinking gave Jerry over ten more years of life. But … Read more

One of young pup Raven’s favorite things to do was sunbathe with her furry family. A dog full of spunk, she loved frolicking with the foster dogs and cats who came to stay with her family. Even though she struggled with her own issues, Raven wanted to help other dogs find their happiness. Sadly though, this good girl’s life was cut tragically short. At only six months old, Raven’s body had grown tired from the congenital issues that made her … Read more

Saying goodbye to a beloved friend is never easy. Still, the staff at Smiths Station Animal Hospital go above and beyond to ensure their patients and clients have every creature-comfort in these heartbreaking moments. Recently, the Lee County, Alabama vet clinic posted a photo to Facebook, and its bittersweet meaning is hitting viewers right in the feels. The image shows a clear jar filled to the brim with Hershey’s Kisses. Written on the side, with hearts for O’s, are the … Read more

When Wendy O’Grady’s beloved Chocolate Labrador, Zac, passed away from cancer last month, she was stricken with grief.  She had the sweet dog for nearly 12 years, and without him, she wasn’t sure how to move forward. Zac had been a gift from her husband, Mike after O’Grady suffered miscarriage after miscarriage — and in his own special way, Zac helped O’Grady heal from the pain of dealing with fertility issues.  In the time following Zac’s death, O’Grady took two … Read more

From the moment Maple the rescue dog met her dad, musician Trench, they’ve been inseparable. Through every guitar chord and song, Maple has been her dad’s biggest fan every step of the way. But now, after over 12 years, they’ve played their final song together.  Maple passed away on June 16 at the heartbreak of her dad and her many online fans. Regularly featured in her dad’s music videos on YouTube and Instagram, Maple rose to stardom with her sweet accompaniments … Read more

People often overlook pet deaths. But anyone who has lost a dog knows that it’s one of the hardest things to experience. So, pastor Tim Beville Jr. from Pennsylvania decided to show the world that pet loss shouldn’t be taken lightly. He created the biggest, most beautiful funeral for his late Pug named Dexter. It included an open casket, an assortment of flowers, and an obituary. To Beville’s surprise, people all over the world were moved by it. He knew … Read more

When you think of police dogs, you might imagine large, strong dogs like a German Shepherd or Belgian Malinois. An 8-pound runt of the litter is probably the opposite of what you’d expect. But Midge the Chihuahua/Rat Terrier mix holds the Guinness World Record for being the smallest police K9 ever, and she was proud of it. Even though she didn’t look like a police dog, she always took her job very seriously. But sadly, all journeys have to come … Read more

UPDATE 4/13/2021: Sadly, on March 31st, 2021, dog mom Jennifer Hetterscheidt announced that Augie, the world’s oldest Golden Retriever, had crossed the Rainbow Bridge. Augie was 20 years and 11 months old, making her likely the 19th oldest dog ever as well as the oldest Golden. In dog years, Augie would’ve surpassed 100 years old almost 5 years ago! “It is with profound sadness that I tell you Miss Augie passed away. Augie, in her own way told me her … Read more

Freddy the Great Dane went viral for his tall stature. He towered over his mom and even his Great Dane sister. So, he was proud when he earned the title of “World’s Tallest Dog” in 2016. Not long after, he was also suspected to be one of the oldest living Great Danes. He loved all the fans he made during his rise to fame, but sadly, he fell on hard times at the beginning of 2021. Freddy passed away at … Read more

Actress Kaley Cuoco always has enough room in her heart for more rescue animals. Even though caring for several dogs often means heartbreak, in the end, she knows it’s worth it because she gets to make their lives special. But after Norman, her rescue Pit Bull of 14 years, passed away, it was harder than she ever imagined. Norman was always there through every milestone in her life, so being without him was difficult to even imagine. But at least … Read more

Moose the Yellow Lab accomplished more in his life than most humans do. Not only was he one of four dedicated therapy dogs at Virginia Tech, but he also had an honorary doctorate degree in veterinary medicine. He helped many students cope with anxiety and other mental health problems. Moose was always there to support them and let them know that it’s okay to ask for help. This sweet therapy dog spent years making lives better at Virginia Tech. But … Read more

Animal loving comedian, Bill Bailey, is the mourning the death of his beloved rescue dog. With Banjar being one of the main lights in his life, he is feeling the impact of this heartbreaking loss. Bill Bailey recently took to Twitter to share news of the passing of his rescue dog, Banjar. His 3.3 million followers flooded his page with heartwarming support as he sent a farewell message to his old friend. “Today we said goodbye to our lovely rescue … Read more