Although it’s not entirely clear whether animals fully comprehend the concept of death, when a beloved human passes away and never returns, pets can experience profound grief at the absence of the person with whom they shared most of their lives.
An animal’s life is incomplete if it is not spent alongside someone who feeds it, cares for it, and gives it the love and loyalty that every living being deserves.
On the third day of a hike, Kris Busching and his friend Mark attempted to descend into a canyon with their two dogs to fetch some water. Suddenly, they misstepped and fell. Kris was the first to lose his balance and tried to pull his dogs to safety, but tragically, he died instantly upon impact.
Mark carried the two dogs to Kris’s family home in Long Island, New York, where the organization Mr. Bones & Co. stepped in to help, taking the dogs to a veterinarian. This allowed Kris’s family more time to grieve.
“The level of loyalty and love these two showed when big brother Tonka was admitted to our @amcny emergency animal hospital to save his leg needs no further captioning. Their bond with Little P is forever,” the organization wrote.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to raise funds for Tonka and Little P’s medical care, as Kris’s family faces substantial funeral expenses and cannot cover the costs of the dogs’ care on their own.
When an owner dies, pets often show signs of deep sadness, especially in the first few days. While it is difficult, there are small ways to help them cope: give them their favorite food, avoid leaving them alone, and above all, shower them with love, which is truly the best medicine.