A heartbreaking goodbye between two bonding dogs has left their rescuers grieving and touched the hearts of dog lovers around the globe.
Donna with Stray Rescue of St. Louis was checking on another dong when she came up to traffic on Highway 70 in city. There was a group of people gathered around a dog who had been hit by a car. His loyal companion was guarding him and barking loudly.
Donna got the two dogs – she named Heart and Soul back to the shelter. It was clear that Soul was very badly hurt. They immediately sedated him to get x-rays. While preparing him for the x-rays, Heart was attentive and so worried for her friend. She gently pushed to stay close to her friend.
Sadly, devastating news was to follow. Stray Rescue of St. Louis revealed, “We’re so sad to tell you his [Soul’s] back is broken and it cannot be fixed.”
Vets revealed that the break in Soul’s back was “severed” and would not be able to heal.
“At Stray Rescue, we will do what it takes to save a life, but if there is no chance at quality of life, the kindest thing is to say goodbye,” Natalie Thomson from Stray Rescue of St. Louis told Newsweek.
Before Soul left this Earth, the rescuers brought Heart to him. “We gave her the time she needs to say goodbye to her friend. This is true love.”
“Heart fell asleep on Soul. We’re all grieving with her,” the rescuers shared on Facebook.
Heart gently rested her head on her friend as he parted.
Stray Rescue of St. Louis
“She wanted to be with him, so we gave her time to say goodbye. We kept her with us the entire time, hoping she would understand what was happening,” said Thomson.
There was an outpouring of emotion from Stray Rescue’s supporters. James J. Hess commented, “So sorry for Heart. Animal rescue can be so heartbreaking some days. Some days I have tears of joy, and sometimes I have tears of sorrow. And, I’m supposed to be a big tough guy. I always have damp eyes. Thank you for all you do.”
After the sad goodbye, the shelter staff set Heart up in “an apartment with big, cushy blankets and sat with her.”
“At first, she was scared and growly, but then she didn’t want us to leave her,” said Thomson.
They gave her a bath the next morning because she was covered in dirt and grime.
Stray Rescue of St. Louis
“Heart was dirty, so stinky, and covered in something gross,” they wrote. “Who knows how long and she and Soul were surviving the streets together. Today, she got a much needed, sudsy bath.” The bath marks the first step in Heart’s new journey. Her carers wrote, “Time to start healing, baby girl.”
They said that Heart is a bit timid and shy but they hope to introduce her to other dogs soon as see how she does, followed by putting her up for adoption. But Soul will not be forgotten. The group added, “We are going to get her a little pendant to wear on her collar with some of his ashes so she can always carry him with her.”
To support Heart and the work that Stray Rescue of St. Louis does, visit their website.
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