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Many of us have experienced the loss of a beloved dog. While it’s always a sad experience, there are ways to make yourself feel better, like remembering the good times you had with your pet or paying it forward to other dogs.
That’s what one grieving dog dad did in memory of his late pet, setting up a heartwarming tribute that’s making many people emotional.
Jason Dunne, from Exmouth, England, said goodbye to his beloved dog Rex earlier this month. “My heart is physically hurting but I’m so so grateful to have shared your existence,” Jason wrote on Twitter. “The best boy there ever was.”
He wrote that Rex was put down at the vet, and that his end was painless and peaceful. But Jason was still left reeling after the death of his dog, and wanted to find a way to memorialize Rex.
He remembered the walks he would take on the beach with Rex: Jason said that Rex loved dogs and people and they would often meet other dog owners.
“I’ve met so many people on walks over our 14 years together and I couldn’t tell you their names, but I could name their dogs and they all knew Rex’s name,” Jason told East Devon News.
So, he decided to put up a fitting memorial for Rex on the beach. He put a box of tennis balls, asking dog owners to take one for free so they could play catch with their pets in memory of Rex.
Jason included a photo of Rex and a heartwarming note:
Rex loved the beach,
Rex loved the ball,
Please feel free to
take a ball for your
dog & I hope you all
enjoy this place as much
as we did.
Rex – Sleep well my ginger prince.
“It was my way of having one last beach day with my once-in-a-lifetime dog who literally changed our lives for the better in so many ways,” Jason said.
The memorial no doubt brought a smile and maybe a tear to many beachgoers — Jason says he hopes they hug their pets and pay forward the kindness in memory of Rex. “He’s brought out the best in this community and it’s been amazing,” Jason told East Devon News.
“The messages from other people who have lost their pets, and from people with pups at the very beginning of their adventure together, has moved us and we find real comfort in that,” he added.
“Exmouth came together in kindness. That’s his legacy. Hug your pets. Be more Rex.”
It’s not the first time a grieving dog owner has set up a free tennis ball stand in honor of their pet — we’ve previously seen stories like this from Rhode Island to Australia — but it’s a great idea and always puts a smile on our faces.
What a heartwarming tribute to this beautiful dog! Rest in peace, Rex — we know your up there smiling and playing ball on the other side of the rainbow bridge 🌈💔
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