Pet Loss

Stuart Hutchison of Alloa, Scotland died peacefully at home on August 11th. He was just 25 years old and had battled an aggressive form of brain cancer since he was a teen. Stuart had a two-year-old French Bulldog, Nero, that he was inseparable with. There was also four-year-old Nala and then Amelia, but though Stuart had three dogs, Nero was always the one by his side. The Battle Continued The family was told in March that Stuart was responding well … Read more

It’s traditional to say a few words for our loved ones when we suffer a loss. With obituaries, epitaphs and eulogies, we have a number of ways to say farewell to our human friends and family. We’ve discussed before how losing a pet can be even harder than losing a friend or relative for a number of reasons. We don’t often get to mourn them the way we ought to, and our pets don’t always get the goodbyes they deserve … Read more

When Jasmina Lozar Povše first saw Lilly in a shelter on a dog rescue mission in Croatia, she didn’t think she was ready to bring home a new dog. Jasmina had been suffering from debilitating asthma and allergies, barely able to get outside at times. She felt she couldn’t offer a quality life for Lilly. But when her friend returned to the shelter two weeks later and saw Lilly still there, Jasmina knew she had to take her home. Lilly … Read more

An unfortunate aspect of being a pet parent is that, more than likely, you will outlive them. The day we have to say goodbye is a day we all dread. But why not make it the best day possible, for both you and your pup, by doing all of your favorite things together one last time?  That’s exactly what Baxter’s mom did, and her video documenting their last day together has gone viral.  If you’ve ever had a dog that’s … Read more

No one ever wants to have to say goodbye forever to their best friend. But when given the chance, many would prefer to let their beloved dogs go peacefully instead of painfully succumbing to disease. That dreaded moment of acceptance is one that sticks with you for a long time. On Twitter, Toronto resident Dale Thompson shared a glimpse of his own heartbreaking farewell moment with his 14-year-old dog Murphy. Murphy had been battling cancer for a while now. “This … Read more

Our dogs are more than just pets to us. They are our best friends, they are part of the family. That is why we give them everything they need to make them happy and to make their lives comfortable. We make sure that they feel our love and that they get the utmost care when they get sick. But dogs’ lives are short, and unfortunately for us, the time will come when we have to say good bye to them. … Read more

A family from Tucson, Arizona, said they made the biggest mistake of their lives after leaving their dogs at Buhrke’s Pet Resort. They dropped off their two healthy dogs thinking they would be in good hands, but the family was only able to take home one of them alive. The family is accusing the pet resort of neglecting the dog, but the owner of the resort refuses to admit he did anything wrong. Now, dog lovers are supporting the family … Read more

A curious Staffordshire Bull Terrier died tragically because there was no cure for her wound. She had a blister that kept getting bigger and bigger until she had to be put down. The only thing that led to this heartbreaking fate was touching a plant at a park. Now, the deceased dog’s human is warning others to beware of the plant known as “Britain’s Most Dangerous Plant.” While it’s rare to come across this invasive weed, all it takes is … Read more

On June 29th, 2022, a family was told their dog went missing while staying at a pet resort in Spicewood, Texas. They spent days searching for him only to find out he wasn’t missing at all. Instead, his dead body was buried on the property of the dog daycare. No one knows exactly what happened to the “missing” canine, but the family is devastated. They spent a week searching for him when he wasn’t even on the loose. Officers are … Read more

Has a friend ever confided in you that the loss of their dog caused more grief than the death of a close relative? Have you ever felt this way yourself? Society has conditioned us to feel ashamed of such emotions, but research suggests we are more than justified when we deeply mourn the loss of a furry friend. When our first family dog, Spike passed away, my father suffered terribly. He would come home from work and just sit in … Read more

“Chopper the Biker Dog” was a local celebrity in San Diego his whole life. The adorable Boston Terrier was a therapy dog that visited hospitals, hospice care, and homeless shelters to bring smiles to people’s faces. He often arrived at his destinations on a dog-sized motorcycle wearing a biker outfit. But after many years of bringing love to the community, Chopper’s career came to a heartbreaking end. After battling many health concerns, Chopper passed away at 12 years old. He … Read more

Lady, a 2-year-old Pit Bull/Chihuahua mix, loved her family more than anything. Whenever the family’s four kids would play outside, Lady wouldn’t be far behind. Until recently, playtime was relaxing and fun, but when a mountain lion approached the yard, Lady’s protective side kicked in. In a horrific showdown, Lady fought the massive mountain lion to make sure it stayed away from her young family members. At first, she walked away from the fight, but she didn’t live much longer. … Read more

When rescue dog Gus passed away unexpectedly, his mom Anna Brose was left with an empty heart and a full bag of dog food. Many people shared their condolences with Brose and her husband, but nothing seemed to cheer her up. Despite her sorrows, Brose knew she had to do something about the unopened bag of prescription dog food she had purchased. So, she reached out to Chewy.com to see if she could return it for a refund. Their unexpected … Read more

A Brazilian man and his faithful canine travel companion died tragically in a car accident just days before completing the road trip of a lifetime. Jesse Kozechen, an Instagram influencer and self-proclaimed wanderer, was 29 years old at the time of the accident. He and his Golden Retriever, Shurastey, died immediately on impact. The adventurous duo was nearing the completion of a lifelong dream: to travel, by car, across the United States, from Brazil to Alaska. At the time of … Read more

A Dalmatian named Tuesday was a famous actor in the show Chicago Fire. She made occasional appearances on the series as a dog with the same name as herself, and she quickly grew a fanbase. But sadly, after many years with the show, Tuesday had to say goodbye without much warning. Now, Chicago Fire‘s cast and crew are mourning the loss of their furry friend. Fans of the show are devastated that Tuesday won’t be appearing in episodes anymore, but they’re grateful … Read more

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