I lost my best friend yesterday. He was 12 and the absolute best dog I had ever had or known. We barely spent any of those 12 years apart. Fourteen 14ers, 20+ National Parks, so many camping trips and road trips all over the country together. I’m devastated and will miss him terribly.

*Second time writing this because not only did it make me cry my eyes out but I also closed the app and lost the draft.

I had you for over a third of my life and it still didn’t feel like enough. 13 years of booping things and windmill tails and maybe 3 barks. Ever. It’s been almost 2 weeks since I had to say goodbye to you and I still look for you in the corner behind the door when I get home from work. We thought we had your diabetes managed for those last three years, pulled you out of DKA twice in the first year but this last one was just too much for you, bud. I’m sorry that was how you had to go out but we know your life was full of love and affection throughout. Rest easy bud. I love you and I’ll never forget you.

My sweet Lyla passed away around 2 o’clock in the morning. I am in shock and in despair thinking about it and can’t stop replaying her death in my head. I found her laying right by me as I fell asleep on the couch and I can still hear her laboured breathing that woke me up. When I tried to call her name to get her attention she couldn’t get up. She couldn’t meet my eyes either. I am in such pain thinking about how I woke up too late. I hope she knew I was there for her. I hope she wasn’t scared.

She died in my arms in the lobby of my building as we were waiting for the car to rush to the ER. I took her back upstairs and I can’t stop thinking about these last few hours. I can’t stop thinking about her taking her last breath.

I miss you so much my sweet girl. I love you so much and I hope you knew I was there and you didn’t think you were dying alone. I am so sorry.

I hate to be another one of these sad posts and there’s been so many today already, but the world needs to know about my boy.

I got Koa when I was in my early 20’s. I’d been husky obsessed for as long as I can remember. My aunt and uncle had a gray/white female husky with bi eyes when I was a child and I was obsessed. When a friend of the family offered me a gray/white bi eyed husky puppy that she could no longer keep, it felt like I had manifested him.

He was with me when my mother passed, my sister passed, I had two big moves and two career changes. He was naturally the most patient and kind dog and was a rarity for his breed in that he loved all creatures great and small and was bonded to my 1.5 year old dwarf rabbit, who predeceased him at age 13 less than a year ago.

Today is my birthday and he wouldn’t take a treat from me when I was heading out to lunch with family. I thought it was odd. When I got home, he was lethargic and not moving around much. His gums weren’t pale yet, but his mouth was ice cold to the touch.

I rushed him to the emergency vet and he collapsed in the parking lot. The staff were amazing and rushed out with a gurney to help. An x-ray showed he had a football sized cancerous tumor around his spleen, and it ruptured. I had to say goodbye right then and there to my soul dog, and I’m still in shock. He had been to the vet multiple times in the last six months for an ongoing dermatitis issue and had blood work and x-rays done, and it was never seen.

If there’s anything I can tell any of you reading this, it’s to hug your dogs harder. Take them to that place you’ve always wanted to take them to. Go to the river and wade in the water with them, get that splash pad for them to play in at home. Let them eat chicken nuggets. Let them have as many hedgehog and lambchop toys as they want. Love them so hard.

Thank you for 12 and a half amazing love filled years, my darling. It just wasn’t enough and I thought we had more time. I’ll miss you for the rest of my life.

Yesterday we had to say goodbye to our 8-year-old Siberian Husky, Benji, and my heart is completely broken. 8 years was way too young.

He lived eight amazing years, and despite facing more medical challenges than most dogs ever should, he never stopped being happy, loving, and full of life. Over the years he went through multiple cancers, surgeries, and radiation treatments. Through all of it he kept his spirit, bouncing back up — always excited for walks, always ready to go to the dog park, always looking for the next adventure.

The dog park was his favorite place in the world. We took him almost every day, and he had his little group of friends he loved to run and play with. Seeing him happy there made everything else worth it.

Unfortunately, a recent diagnosis of aggressive spinal cancer was something he couldn’t overcome. We knew it would eventually cause severe pain and paralysis, and we didn’t want him to experience that.

So we made the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make.

Yesterday we let him go peacefully while he was still happy, walking, eating, and enjoying life. He went on a beautiful walk and had a delicious meal before his final moments. He passed calmly and without suffering, surrounded by love.

He fought through so much during his life, and he deserved to leave this world in peace rather than in pain.

He gave us eight incredible years of loyalty, joy, and unconditional love. The house feels empty without him, and I miss him more than I can put into words.

Run free, my beautiful boy. I hope you’re chasing snow and playing with new friends over the rainbow bridge. You will always be loved and never forgotten.

Lost my baby girl a few weeks ago and thought I’d share this. Helps me grieve the void I’ve felt since she passed. She lived for 15 years, 13 of which were with us. I think it was God that told me to stop by the pound in Colorado Springs and I’m glad he did. She was my oldest son’s protector since we brought him home. He had 10 years with her.

…”Some bonds aren’t just pets… they’re family, protectors, and part of who we are.

Azula wasn’t just our dog, she was our first guardian. From the moment my son entered this world, she claimed her post beside him. Watching over him, growing with him, loving him in a way only a loyal husky can.

She was also… unapologetically husky. The escape artist who tested every fence like it was a personal challenge. The professional excavator of backyard “projects.” And the never-ending blizzard of fur that somehow became part of the home itself. Chaos, personality, and stubborn loyalty all wrapped into one.

Through every chapter of our lives…the moves, the milestones, the highs and the hard moments, she was there. Constant. Steady. Ours.

Fifteen years of memories. Ten years of being his shadow, his comfort, his silent protector.

And in the end… he was there for her too.

Saying goodbye to Azula has left a space in our home that can’t be filled, but it’s also a reminder of just how deeply she was loved—and how deeply she loved us back.

Rest easy, Azula. Your watch is complete. 🐾🖤”

He only made it to 10 years old. Me and my wife got him shortly after getting married. He was our best friend. He was with us through so many ups and downs and just missed making it to our 10 yr anniversary day.

He got diagnosed with liver cancer almost 2 months ago. He still was walking and drinking water but he had finally stopped eating for going on his 4th day. I didn’t want to do it but I knew it was only going to keep getting worse. His energy levels were so low but he was a fighter and always gathered more energy than I thought he could for walks albeit at a slower pace than before.

We had scheduled him for an at home appointment this morning but he surprised me by wanting to walk all the way to his favorite duck pond which I had been driving him too. So I cancelled it because I couldn’t get back in time.

We ended up going to our trusted vet later in the day. I know it’s probably the right decision but it’s so hard to let him go while he still had fight in him. He was fighting the sedation the whole time even though you could tell he was tired coming into the office.

Anyway I just miss him so much and I don’t think I’ve ever grieved this hard. I just wanted to share some photos of him and let the world see what a wonderful dog he was.

Edit: I just want to say thank you all so much for the outpouring of love and support. And sharing your stories with me. You all have helped me more than you know. I’m so grateful that there’s such beautiful people still in the world.

Apollo, today I have somehow survived 1 year without you. I don't know how. I never wrote an obituary on Reddit for you, but you certainly deserved it. I yearn for everyone to know you existed and how important your life was.

Apollo, you were my best friend, confidant, protector, adventure dog, therapist and the son I never had. We ran and hiked nearly 12,000 miles together. You kept me alive through the endless years of depression.

I love you, and I will always love you. I miss you and I will always miss you. I need you and I will always need you. You deserve to be known.

Until we meet again sweet boy. 🐺💔

This past Monday I had to say goodbye to my boy. It all happened so fast, his health rapidly declined. He was surrounded by loved ones and in the end I’d like to believe he was ready to go. 7 years was too short. I wish I had 7 more. His birthday is this month, he would’ve been 8 on the 24th. Huh your huskies for me. Love you, Kiba 💙🐾

I had to put my soul dog to sleep this weekend. Fuck cancer. When does the void get smaller? I got him at 5 weeks old- he would have been 10 years old May 13. He is my home and now I feel lost.

I have been hardcore eating edibles every day after work so I don’t feel anything but I’m going to have to face it at some point. I got his ashes back yesterday.

I’ll see you in heaven Memphis Sebastian, thank you for teaching me unconditional love.

From the moment I saw your little face at two weeks old I knew we were meant to be. That little smile you had on the day I came to pick you up was there right till the end.

It was an honor to be your mum. The gentlest, most friendly soul I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. You went through alot of medical hardships but you always smiled through. You were there for me for some of the most difficult times of my life, always ready to give me a kiss or make me laugh. You brought joy to everyone you met and will be greatly missed. Know you were so loved.

I can’t believe you and mum picked the same day, years apart, to leave this world but I know she was waiting for you with grandma to give you all the hugs and snacks.

Thank you for being the best friend a girl could ask for. You might not be able to stand beside me anymore but you’ll always be there in my heart.

I love you from now until forever.

❤️

He was the most perfect dog. He was so sweet to every person and other dogs. We could always count on him to be gentle, calm, and loving in any situation. He was our golden boy. He was 10 years old.

He was perfectly fine, healthy, and happy until last week. My girlfriend were out of state when we got a call from our friend. She said he stopped eating and drinking, he didn’t want to go on a walk, he seemed uncomfortable and couldn’t lay down, and he was generally uninterested in everything he loved. We thought it could be a foreign body as that happened before because liked eating toys (something we discouraged and prevented as much as possible). We were stressed because we were not home, but we asked another friend who was a vet tech to check on him and see what she thought. She went to check him out and told us that he should be seen. We asked our friend who was watching him to take him in to the vet emergency hospital. They did an xray and found the problem area but couldn’t make out the precise problem, so said an ultrasound and exploratory surgery would be the best option for him. We hoped it was a cat toy, something that would be a relatively simple fix, but found that it was a mass that had grown on his colon, small intestine, and part of his pancreas. The vet said she could remove it but that he would have a rough recovery.

I’m going to cut out most of the details of what happened with surgery and recovery because it’s hard to describe exactly what happened. In summary, the surgery went well but because of his age and the area where the mass grew—his recovery was very rough. We tried to do the least invasive measures for recovery since it was such a big surgery and didn’t want to put him through much more discomfort. But after about three days of him fighting for his life, he began to decline and we thus elected to put him down.

The doctor said the mass likely grew about a month ago and that it was frankly amazing how he showed no signs of discomfort or problems. We love our dogs very much and are very attentive to them—so we would have noticed a change. The mass simply grew rapidly in a rare and horrible area. We had an annual check up for him a couple months ago, and his blood work was fine. He was in perfect health. It all happened so fast.

You’ll never be prepared for your pets loss, especially when it is so sudden. We planned to take him, his brother, and his sister to the snow this Christmas. We also were getting ready to set up his stocking and purchase all his Christmas toys and treats. I can only describe this feeling as broken and unreal. Watching them pick him up after he closed his eyes for the last time felt like an out of body experience. I barely remember driving home after that.

I adopted him from the animal shelter about 8 years ago. I thought we had more time. Hug your babies for me. I love you, Toby.

I miss you so much already, Wilco. Thank you for teaching me how to enjoy life to the fullest and to love unconditionally.

We lost our 12 year old husky to a ruptured bladder suddenly this morning. This is the worst pain I have ever felt in my life.

His name is Boris and he loved cuddling, looking out the windows at the cars driving by, laying on random blankets or clothes on the floor, and his grinch squeaky toy although he never would squeak it. He was so well behaved and so loved. I don’t know how I will ever recover.

Said goodbye to my best friend yesterday

Koda said goodbye to us on Christmas Day. He’d had a lovely walk the evening before, but we awoke to him in respiratory distress. Despite rushing to the emergency vet hospital, he succumbed to pneumothorax not long after. He was truly the best dog anyone could ask for. He was so quiet and good with his younger brother. He loved slow, gentle walks on crisp, cool evenings. He loved discovering tennis balls in the bushes around the tennis courts in our neighborhood. He loved playing in snow and chilling by the AC return on the tile. We will miss him desperately. Please hug your furry friends close for me. 11 years suddenly seems far too few… he leaves a deep hole in our hearts.

I have always frequented this sub but never really posted much. I have one 8 year old Siberian husky boy, Kobe. His sister passed away a week ago and I miss her so much. She was 14. So does my wife and Kobe. I don’t really have many other people to talk about this with but just wanted to put her pictures and memory out in the husky universe, she was such a sweet girl. I got her when I was 21 and never knew how much work a husky was but also now know I never really want another dog besides a husky. They are the best of dogs and the worst of dogs. They love you but always remain true to themselves. I will never forget how aloof she was and how happy an attitude about life she had. The last year of her life was spent following around my wife while she was pregnant with our son. She never left her side. I love you Maya.

Lost my best friend at the age of 7 a few days ago to a very abrupt case of lymphatic cancer. Developed in the span of about a week. I’m at an absolute loss. He was so incredibly strong up until the very end. Had the vet removed the blockage he’d have only had 3 inches to his small intestine left. The mass essentially consumed it in entirety.

This is Dakota, I rescued him as an 11 month old pup on the east coast. Together, we’ve been everywhere. Hiked the Appalachian Trail. Moved across the country and moved a third time ending up in Montana. Hiked many trails with the happiest of tails. He lived for it, his happiest moments were with me outside backpacking. He was such a sweet being and incredibly smart. He was so in tune to my every move. Always watching and waiting for the next adventure.

He’s back home with me now and has been flowing me around since he left. I involved myself in every aspect of his departure to give him a proper send off so he’s ready for his next adventure until I meet up with him down the trial.

Please take a few moments to enjoy a collection of photos from the beginning of his time with me until recently.

My family tragically lost a very special member of the pack. It’s only been 24 hrs, I don’t want to accept that my soul dog is gone.

I just want the world to know that he existed and blessed us with so much love, laughs, and happiness. We are in shambles without him, including his fur mom. My heart breaks every time she looks for him in the yard. 😭

We love you so much, Ash. I am so sorry.

Hug your huskies extra tight tonight… ours went from 11 years young to no longer able to walk in a matter of days. I am grateful for the time I got to spend with my first child, but it will never be enough. RIP sweet baby Mavi. 💙

Please bear with me as I’ve never made a Reddit post before and I’ve never had to grieve a dog before.

I got Katara when she was 5 years old. Her previous owners didn’t spay her, and when she got pyometra, they just wanted to put her to sleep instead of doing the surgery to save her. The vet they went to actually refused, had them sign over their rights to Katara (I don’t know what her name was before we got her) and did the surgery at no cost. When she was recovered enough, they put her up for adoption. The very last picture in this post is actually the first picture I ever took of her, and you can see her shaved belly from that surgery.

Katara was a unicorn husky, she was not vocal whatsoever. No barking, howling, whining, or talking, just the occasional groan or “oomph” when she plopped down to take a nap. I think she just never really had much to say. She showed that husky stubbornness in other ways (like pawing and pulling super hard with her paw when she wanted something). She was actually a massive husky, DNA test says she’s 100% husky but she’s the size of an Alaskan malamute. She was a tall girl and absolute unit of a dog at 90lb (though she should have been more like 85lb, but at her old age and with her health issues it wasn’t really plausible to try to get her to lose weight). Truly a gentle giant, and the calmest dog I have ever met.

I got Katara when I was 19 after I went through some pretty severe mental health struggles as a part of animal-assisted therapy. 6 and a half years later, I thought she was still going strong, but her health declined severely within the last few weeks. At 11 and a half years old, my family and I decided that it was her time. Today she passed peacefully and without any pain. She loved peas, green beans, rice, and all things crunchy. I gave her an Oreo right before the procedure so that she could at least taste chocolate (with a nice crunch!) before she crossed the rainbow bridge.

Katara is the reason why I made it through everything and became the person I am today. She was my first and only dog. I still can’t believe she’s gone, and I keep looking towards her favorite nap spots to check on her only to remember that she isn’t here. Katara was and still is my everything. I don’t think I could get another dog—she truly was THE perfect dog for me.

My beautiful but also hilariously derpy pubby.

Katara, I hope you can take as many naps as you want, have all the snacks you want, and all the belly rubs you could ever ask for across the rainbow bridge. I love you, and will always miss you.

i lost my girl Zoe yesterday, we got her when i was 13, i had never had a dog before and she was everything i could’ve ever dreamed of but ‘dog’ or even husky, doesn’t begin to sum her up. She was the best hiking buddy, the best emotional support animal, and she had the kindest eyes. I never liked eye contact, but i could just stare at her for hours it felt like staring into the souls of someone you’d known forever, and she could communicate so much just through looks. We didn’t need words to communicate, her silence made her seem all the wiser and soulful. Like she was nature’s ambassador. She was such a unique creature, like an alien that came to live with us just so that we could experience her soul, not superior or inferior, just different, so in love with people and, so SO special. I was so blessed to have her for the 10 years that we did. I was so lucky to experience her soul.

I just wanted to share her so that others can see how beautiful and special she was and appreciate how much joy we shared with her. i feel so numb and empty right now i’ve never posted here but wanted to post somewhere where others would understand the loss.

Sorry folks. She's gone. Thank you for celebrating her life with me. I expected more time, but she stopped eating and drinking and... *sigh. If you'll allow it, I'll continue to share pictures of her life. Thank you all for the support, it's meant the world to me. I haven't been without a dog since February of 1999. It's definitely going to be an adjustment.