An owner hoping to give her “soul dog” a proper send-off took her to the beach with a handwritten sign, inviting gentle goodbyes from strangers, and the result left viewers in tears.
The moment Ari adopted Josie, a pit bull and shar-pei mix, in Gainesville, Florida, when the dog was about a year old, the two became inseparable. Ari told Newsweek via TikTok that as a velcro dog, Josie did not believe in personal space. Josie loved humans more than dogs, craving pets from every person she encountered during all nine years they’ve been together.
Realizing Josie’s final days were approaching, Ari decided to give her dog her favorite thing in the world: attention. Ari made a sign and placed it on the 10-year-old canine’s wagon, parading around the beach with hopes that strangers would celebrate Josie. The sign read: “Enjoying my last couple days. Could you please spare some pets?”
Last week’s TikTok video posted to Ari’s account, @ari.valentine.02, showed her simple request on a seaside stroll, capturing the weight of saying goodbye to a companion animal. Josie looked out of her wagon, content with her life filled with cuddles and love. The rest of the clip showcases Josie in her final days as she enjoyed special treats and spent quality time with the family.
Internet In Tears
The heartwarming sign instantly captured people’s attention, and as of Tuesday, the TikTok video had reached more than 953,200 views, 162,200 likes and 2,659 comments.
“The way I would sob uncontrollably if I saw Josie in her wagon with that sign. I’d have to pet her for hours,” commented a viewer, while a second person said: “I just know Josie felt every ounce of love right until the very end.”
Concerned about the number of pets Josie received, someone wrote: “If you walked by without petting, I hope you step on Legos.”
While the idea touched people’s hearts, the turnout wasn’t as expected. Ari said: “Unfortunately, she only got two pets that day. The beach wasn’t crowded at all.”
‘She Gave Me Purpose’
After nine years together, the farewell broke Ari’s heart, as Josie stood by her side while she navigated adulthood, teaching her about patience and responsibility.
“I adopted her when I was a 19-year-old college kid, 1,000 miles away from home,” she said. “We grew up together…She gave me purpose.”
Reflecting on their time together, Ari said Josie was intuitive. She would pick up on what triggered Ari or what made her happy. Sometimes Josie would nudge the cellphone out of Ari’s hands if she was angry and arguing on it.
Josie loved to sunbathe. She would relax in a sun spot in the house for hours at a time. The other moments, she’d come within inches of Ari’s face just to stare. The gaze became their language. But Josie also had a sassy side that showed up as a pout if she was told no.
Working Through Pet Grief
For many owners, end-of-life moments with their pets revolve around small rituals—favorite places, familiar scents or special treats—that offer comfort and a gentle start to the grieving process. There is no one-size-fits-all for grief as everyone has different coping mechanisms, life experiences and attachment to pets.
One way people work through grief is by celebrating their pets. It helps keep the special love you shared and their memories alive.
An article from the Animal Humane Society suggests holding a memorial for your pet, giving you time to share memories and say a final farewell. Owners could also create an outdoor memorial for their pets with stones or windchimes, or preserve their paw print and fur to make custom ornaments, artwork and even tattoos.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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