A pet owner who lost her beloved dog of 12 years has captured the heartbreaking moment her cat appeared to mourn the passing of his “brother.”
Bree W. from Brainerd, Minnesota, adopted her dog, Barney, soon after moving out of her parents’ house to start college. “He was my soul dog,” Bree told Newsweek. “I saw this picture of him and roommate and I went to pick him up the next day, the day after my 19th birthday.”
Barney, who was about two years old at the time, would go on to spend 12 years with Bree doing all the things a happy dog does.
“He loved to play fetch, go swimming, and one of his quirks was that he would always lead different people to the cabinet where the treats were,” she said. “He loved table scraps, watching birds and squirrels and sunbathing near a patio door or window.”
Seven years into their time together, Barney welcomed another pet into the family, a rescue cat by the name of ‘Stache, called so on account of his mustache, who was adopted on the same date as Barney, but in 2019.
Though there are instances of cats and dogs clashing from time to time, the notion that they are incapable of coexisting has been largely debunked.
On September 6, Barney went to sleep for the final time. Bree was by his side as he passed on. “I wanted him to know I was with him through to the very end,” she said. “I wanted him to know I was right there with him until he took his last breath.” As they left, Bree prayed that Barney would send her some sign that he was at peace.
Bree shared heartbreaking footage of that moment to TikTok under the handle @breeseff. A week after his passing, she brought home Barney’s ashes in an urn along with his collar.
@breeseff #petloss #rainbowbridge #petgrief
Bree admits she’s still struggling with an “immense” sense of grief following Barney’s death. “I think of him all the time. I’m happy he’s no longer in pain, but devastated by his absence,” she said.
One day she might get a four-legged friend but for now she’s just not ready to let go of Stache’s beloved “big brother” Barney. She’ll know when the time is right though.