Every dog deserves to bask in the warmth and security of a compassionate household. For them to thrive, they require our boundless love and safeguarding.
It is profoundly disheartening to witness numerous cold-hearted pet owners abandon their dogs in perilous locations. Left to navigate the world alone, these canines strive to endure while clinging to the hope that their families will return for them.
Heart and Soul, two inseparable companions, also battled for their existence after being forsaken close to a highway. Following their family’s abandonment, they found solace in one another.
Assistance Is Coming
The two close friends were unbreakable until one day, Soul was struck by a vehicle on a St. Louis highway. Upon witnessing her cherished companion’s injury, Heart grew increasingly anxious and began to bark, prompting a crowd to gather around them.
Donna Lochmann, the primary lifesaving officer at Stray Rescue of St. Louis, was fortuitously driving along the same road. She was en route to the shelter. Upon noticing the accident, she stopped and hurried to offer assistance to the dogs.
Heart’s barking escalated.
“She was barking at the passersby and showing her protectiveness. While she wasn’t aggressive, she was ensuring that everyone knew this was her friend, who was injured, and she was watching over him,” remarked Lochmann.
The rescuer slowly moved towards Heart, and after placing a leash on her, she guided her to her vehicle. Once Heart was secured, Lochmann carefully lifted Soul and positioned him in the back.
As they journeyed to the shelter, the anxious pup continued to check on her hurt friend.
Bidding Farewell
Upon their arrival at the shelter, Heart adamantly stayed by Soul’s side.
“She watched over and kept a lookout on the vet,” Lochmann described.
Sadly, the X-rays revealed that Soul’s injuries were more severe than initially believed. The shelter staff and veterinary team were devastated as they were unable to provide assistance for him.
They permitted his closest companion to enter the room to be with him as he crossed the rainbow bridge. When Heart entered the room and viewed Soul, it appeared she comprehended everything.
“She laid with her head resting on him, as if she was embracing him in farewell. As he departed peacefully, she remained right beside him,” Lochmann said.
Witnessing Heart bid farewell to Soul left the entire shelter staff heartbroken.
They were resolute in their determination to provide Heart with comfort and support as she navigated through her sorrow.
Her caretakers offered her a lovely bath and allowed her to rest. They showered her with affection and kindness, petting her and attempting to ease her distress.
Soulmates Will Forever Be Together
Moved by Heart’s profound bond with Soul, the shelter’s team devised a way to keep the pair united.
They affixed a locket containing Soul’s ashes to Heart’s collar. This cherished keepsake also featured a golden wing, symbolizing Soul’s enduring presence in her life. He remains her guardian angel, watching over her from doggy paradise.
Heart didn’t remain long at the St. Louis shelter, quickly transitioning to a foster home. Her foster caregivers were well-equipped to console her, surrounding her with love and tenderness.
Heart Begins A Fresh Chapter
On January 31, 2023, the rescue organization joyfully revealed that Heart had discovered her forever family. Heart’s narrative touched her new guardians as they had endured a similar heartbreak after the loss of their canine companion, Cheyenne.
The family instantly fell in love with Heart, convinced they were the ideal match.
The family’s dog, Bo, eagerly embraced Heart into their household. He understood her emotions well, having lost his closest friend as well.
Heart’s new guardians believed she was destined for them, and they together healed one another’s emotional wounds.
They cherish her deeply, and Bo has become Heart’s faithful sidekick. Both dogs relish spending time with their parents’ grandchildren.
Heart enjoys a joyful existence. She adores curling up with her family and engaging in playful zoomies. This devoted pup will always remember her best friend, Soul, and she continues to wear the locket with his ashes on her collar.