Viral Post About Aging Dogs Urges People To Cherish Them, And It Hits Right In The Feelings

One of the most heartbreaking things about having a pet is outliving them. But caring for them until the very end, whether we're talking to them, listening to them cough or carrying them up and down the stairs, is one of the most important parts of our duty as owners. Furthermore, they deserve it. Those countless smiles, hugs, and snuggles they've been bathing us in throughout the years have made our lives, so it's only fair we do the same for them when they need us the most. Not because we have to; because it's the right thing to do.

28-year-old Jessika Coker perfectly described this feeling in a Facebook post she made in 2019. And it still hasn't faded away into Internet oblivion, having received over 121K reactions and 113K shares. And something tells me it never will -- Jessika's words captured the ever-relevant hardships of dealing with the passing of time and serving as a reminder to cherish the moments we still have.

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"My dog Moose is growing older and I've noticed him start to slow down," Jessika told Bored Panda. "As he was laying in bed with me one night, I began to cry thinking about how much my life would change without him. He has been like a shadow to me. Something you don't notice every moment, but is always quietly there on your heels." "He has been with me my entire adult life. When I was learning how to be alone, he was there so I didn’t have to be. When writing down my thoughts, the words just flowed out of me as I truly do cherish him and everything he has gone through with me over the years. It seems odd to think that there will be a time that he will not be there for a major event in my life as he has been for all of the others."

#1

A Saint Bernards life expectancy is 8 to 10 years. Belle is almost 12 every day with her is a blessing! She had surgery 4 years ago and they told me she maybe had a year left! I cherish every moment with my girl!

Image credits: Cara Zellers

#2

My Sofia will be 17 on Sat. You don’t realize that there will be so many lasts-last walks, last time she’s able to walk up the stairs, or jump off the couch. We adapt but watching her hurt, seeing her personality fade. It’s so hard. I appreciate every day I have with her.

Image credits: Gentry McGuire

#3

Absolutely correct. Chappy is 13.5 and now totally deaf. I'm so glad I taught him hand signals along with voice. He understands things anyhow. Almost instinctively knows what I want and i know what he wants because so many things became routine for him. If I spin around, he knows it's dance time. Don't even want to imagine life without him. He's traveled around the country with me, went to college with me, and most recently licks the tears from my face that I shed from losing my son and snuggles with me. They are a great comforter. They are special!!

Image credits: Vicki Cantrell

#4

My Harley. Got him as a rescue when he was 1. Just turned 12. He's doing pretty good for an a old man. But, we know he only has a few more years, so we're making the best of it.

Image credits: Nicky Merkel

#5

 My grand dog, Rocky, passed away this morning. He was a shelter rescue in Michigan and the sweetest little guy. We are all heartbroken

Image credits: Trudy Gaughran

#6

My soul mate... she made it 14 years and passed away last June. My life hasn’t been the same since. I’ll love you forever Sango

Image credits: Jessica Ring

#7

The best part of my life. They have been by my side for 10 years and I hope to be blessed with many more

Image credits: Elyse Elizabeth

#8

My old lady just turned 17, and I could swear I just got her a couple of years ago. The years...they go fast. She's seen me through relationships, apartments, our house (which I bought so she could have a yard) and everything from my late twenties to mid-forties. I don't know what my life will look like when she's gone, but until then, I'm loving her pretty hard

Image credits: Shasta Kalin

#9

 Fletcher was by my side through 3 homes, 3 other dogs, my wedding, deaths of dear friends and family members, a human brother, and every anxiety attack that ever crossed through my body. We said our final goodbye April 2018. He was 18. I miss him so much.

Image credits: Kama Stine Bennett

#10

Our sweet Monty passed away two weeks ago. He gave us 15 years of happy love and we did love on him every day, knowing his time with us would always be too short

Image credits: Iris Ralston

#11

My ride or die girl almost 2 years post-cancer-diagnosis and so thankful she's still by my side.

Image credits: Kerrie Mitchener McDevitt

#12

 Our first baby, she'll be 10 in a few weeks. She picked my husband all those years ago. She has dementia and forgets where she is and who we are sometimes but she still gives great snuggles

Image credits: Stephanie Pitts

#13

Oh my heart Sadie will be 12 this year and I cherish every day I have left her

Image credits: Kim Doyle

#14

15 year old Bailey.

It’ll break my heart when he is no longer here

Image credits: Lauren Brewer

#15

Andre will be 16 years old in April and I've had him since I was 15. This really touched me because I've had him now for half of my life and he's been there with me before, during and after everything and everyone. I know that day is coming and that I'll never be full ready for it but I'm so thankful for how he always stayed by my side and loved me through it all

Image credits: Danielle Brown

#16

My poor baby girl is coming up on 15 yrs now and I havent got to see her in 2 yrs last I saw her she was starting to go blind and was having a hard time getting around my dad's yard sadly I'm just waiting g to hear them tell me she passed. My older lab Sam passed away 2 years ago after 15 yrs of being in my life. I miss them both dearly

Image credits: Danielle Sparks

#17

It's true. This girl turned 9 years old last month. I adopted her as a 7 week old puppy when my first born was 4 months old and my husband was deployed. She's been by my side more than anyone else, literally. She's having mobility issues now due to hip dysplasia and arthritis and it absolutely kills me to think she won't be around much longer.

Image credits: Megan Kemler

#18

This is my Hank.

I don't know exactly how old he is because he was a middle of the road rescue.

He was starved and abused to the point that my vet said the best he could do age wise was a guess.

He's somewhere between 4 and 8 years old.

I saved him a few months after my husband died.

He's been saving me ever since.

I'll be his mom 3 and a half years this June.

I hope they've been the best years of his life

Image credits: Sharon Stacey

#19

She was my first baby and I love her like a daughter. When our son was born, we called her Edison's sissy and now that he's older, he calls her sissy

Image credits: Chentel Wanek

#20

This touches right on spot. 11 years before I can blink. Love my old lady

House won't be the same without her

Image credits: Aireal Danyus

#21

 My two turds (Yuki and shadow) that I love dearly

Image credits: Heidi McCreary

#22

The love of my life, my little shadow and second heartbeat 14 years old and 12 years by my side. Without him I'm unperfect

Image credits: Annika Nitsch

#23

Love this. Could not be more true. This is my 12 year old baby, Belle. Just found out that she has a lung tumor, so I am cherishing every day!

Image credits: Amanda Pitman

#24

Bailey (Bails) was rescued from an abusive household. She was the first dog i ever had and a surprise birthday present from my dad. She was so gentle and kept to herself most of the time til i brought milo (rescue pup) home and I got to see her be a puppy with him. I have her to thank for shaping milo into the pup he is today. The day she passed away, milo mooped and whined the entire day. We both miss her so much. It’ll be 2 years this April

Image credits: Alex Morris

#25

This really hit me in the feels. Here's Merry & Pippin, the two loves of my life who are turning 14 in May. I've had them since I was 12 and they've been by my side the entire time - they got me through school, uni, my career and were also by my side on my wedding day. Even though I dont live at my parent's home anymore they still come and stay with me on weekends and that's honestly the highlight of my week. It breaks my heart to even think of doing life without them

Image credits: Natalie Reyes

#26

My baby girl lived almost 14 1/2 years. I miss her every day.

Image credits: Judy Alkema Komenovich

#27

11 in June. Been there by my side through so many things. He got sick a few months ago and gave us a scare. I love having so many years with him but hate watching him age. He needs a pause button. He's a forever dog. I don't want to ever have to say goodbye

Image credits: Robin Jinkins

#28

This one will be eight in May. Had her since she was weeks old, not ready for her to get old! She is absolutely family and her and her little sister are very loved

Image credits: Ty Veri

#29

 Don’t, you’ll set me off! I lost my girl last year, my once in a lifetime dog. For her breed she was young to go at 10, but had a year more than the vets thought she’d have once she got ill.

I have 2 dogs now who i adore, but they’ll never replace her

Image credits: Clare Templey

#30

This rings so true to me, I lost my gorgeous lab maxi nearly a year ago to the day. I’m so lucky to have a fantastic back girl in my life who lets me share in time with her gorgeous hound too.

Image credits: Steve Jones

#31

My Lucy girl. She is 7. She was my first baby before my human ones I dread her last day.

Image credits: Lauren Hodgson

#32

And once you've lost your heart dog you'll never be the same. You'll never feel the same pure joy with your other pets. Because the memory of what it feels like to lose them will always be in the back of your mind

Image credits: Trina Dodge

#33

My girl, just realized this year how old she is (about 9-11)

Image credits: Helen Rupert

#34

So true. I rarely try to call for our “old man” dog anymore - just go find him under the covers somewhere.  I try to make sure the stairs from the deck are shoveled (we live in ND) and that his much larger younger (dog) sister doesn’t bother him too much. He’s been with my husband and I through two homes and has two human siblings as well as two cat roommates. He’s an angel. I hope he’s around for many more years.

Image credits: Rachel Thomas

#35

 My baby dog, Milo. He just turned five. I’m afraid when he dies my heart will just snap in half. Makes me cry just thinking about it.

Image credits: Lindsey Kerns

#36

 I'm still not over the loss of this amazing old boy. He was a rescue and I only had ten years with him, the universe felt it needed him more apparently, and I treasure every minute he was with me

Image credits: Karen Smith

#37

My mum asked me how old is Duke this year we thought 3 he's not he's 4 I couldn't believe it we got him when he was 6 months old I was his 3rd owner can remember the day I got him like it was yesterday can't believe he's coming up 4 already they just go by so quickly couldn't imagine my life without him

Image credits: Sarah Hancock

#38

Jordan will be 8 this year. It really is just a blink of an eye. Can’t even imagine my life without her in it. Love her so much!

Image credits: Carole Kusch-Melcher

#39

This was Roxy on her last day. She was surrounded by her pack. It's wild to me how dogs just know when it's the end. She was 15 died two weeks ago.

Image credits: Rachelle Cardinal

#40

Lost my beautiful boy Murphy a month ago...miss him more then words...

Image credits: Gina Vanore Dawson

#41

 Yep. If I say more i will cry.

Image credits: Jennifer Zupko Spaeth

#42

That will be a day I don’t want to imagine. Pickle is only 2.5 so I’m hoping that is a looooong way in our future but I know it’ll break my heart. Dogs are so loyal and loving, such unconditional affection. What a lovely post.

Image credits: Jess Karsten

#43

We lost our sweet Cassie on the 5th. She was 11 years and 6 days shy of 1 month. It went by way too fast.

Image credits: Carla Jo Pike Cordova

#44

My doggie passed away this morning

Image credits: Sara Morris

#45

rehomed at 8 months because he was too much to handle for his first owner. He's full of mischief, and has a severe case of selective hearing, but I still love him to bits.

Image credits: Marthe Sikkerbøl

#46

Over 6 years ago I lost my dog that had been with me for 12 years so most of my life. It still brings tears to my eyes when I think about him but three years ago I finally decided to adopt another dog and every day I give my whole heart to this girl

Image credits: Monika Przybyłek-Woźniak

#47

This unironically makes me think of my baby girl, Asali Badu. I had her for only 11 days before she suddenly and unexpectedly passed away from aspiration pneumonia a year ago today. She was only 10 weeks old when I lost her...

Image credits: Gabrielle Quarles

#48

I miss my Basset Hound Chelsea so much. She passed away a year ago this month from dementia. She was my life

Image credits: Christal Barrett Woodward

#49

Thankful for him everyday he saved my life literally

Image credits: Brianna Wollett