Heartbroken stray dog refuses to leave her best friend’s side after he was hit by car

Dogs are such loving and loyal animals. They are able to form real friendships with other animals, and are often by their side when times are hard.

Recently, one poor dog showed the true meaning of love and friendship, refusing to leave her best friend’s side after he was hit by a car.

According to Stray Rescue of St. Louis, the stray dog was struck by a vehicle on Highway 70. A rescue employee saw a crowd gathered around the injured dog and stopped to help.

The dog was badly hurt — much to the alarm of his best friend, a fellow stray who was on the scene and wouldn’t leave his side.

The worried dog continued to stand guard, as rescuers reassured her that they were there to help her friend. The shelter named the injured dog “Soul” and his friend “Heart.”

As they rushed Soul to the trauma center, they took Heart along as well. Throughout it all, it was clear Heart was very worried for her friend.

Sadly, Soul was too badly hurt in the accident. He suffered a broken back, and the rescue said there was no way to fix it.

“At Stray Rescue, we will do what it takes to save a life, but if there is no chance at quality of life, the kindest thing is to say goodbye,” Natalie Thomson from Stray Rescue told Newsweek.

All the rescue could do was relieve Soul’s pain in his final moments — and give his loyal best friend a chance to say goodbye.

Soul passed away, but Heart still wouldn’t leave his side.

“She wanted to be with him, so we gave her time to say goodbye. We kept her with us the entire time, hoping she would understand what was happening,” Thomson said.

A beautiful, heartbreaking photo shows the moment Heart fell asleep on Soul, loyal til the end as she grieves for her friend. “We’re all grieving with her,” Stray Rescue wrote.

Everyone was incredibly moved by Heart’s loyalty and love, and they are now working on a special way to let Heart remember her friend forever.

They wrote on social media that they are getting a pendant for her collar that will hold some of Soul’s ashes, “so she can always carry him with her.”

Neither of the dogs had collars or microchips, and are assumed to be strays. It’s not clear how long they had been on the streets together, but Heart was noticeably dirty.

But the rescue gave her a much-needed bath, and are committed to giving this heartbroken dog all the love and care she needs going forward: “Time to start healing, baby girl.”