Devoted Dog Refuses To Leave His Best Friend’s Side Until The Very End
Dogs form unbreakable bonds, standing by those they love no matter what.
Two abandoned strays, Heart and Soul, proved this with their unwavering loyalty.
A Desperate Fight For Survival
Heart and Soul were left to fend for themselves near a busy highway, relying only on each other for comfort.
After being abandoned, they had no one else to turn to. But their world turned upside down when tragedy struck.
Source: Stray Rescue of St. Louis
One fateful day, Soul was hit by a car on a highway in St. Louis. Heart, seeing her best friend injured, panicked and started barking desperately. Concerned passersby gathered around them.
Donna Lochmann, chief lifesaving officer at Stray Rescue of St. Louis, was driving by when she noticed the commotion. Without hesitation, she stopped to help.
Heart’s barking grew louder, filled with worry and protectiveness.
“She was barking at people and being protective. She wasn’t being aggressive, but she was letting people know that that was her friend, he was hurt and she was keeping an eye on him,” Lochmann said.
Source: Stray Rescue of St. Louis
Approaching with care, Lochmann gently leashed Heart and led her to the car. Once she was secure, she carefully carried Soul and placed him in the backseat.
As they drove to the shelter, Heart kept checking on her injured friend, unwilling to let him out of her sight.
A Heartbreaking Farewell
At the shelter, Heart refused to leave Soul’s side.
“She watched and would kind of keep an eye on the vet,” Lochmann recalled.
Sadly, X-rays revealed Soul’s injuries were too severe to heal. The veterinary team was devastated—they had no choice but to let him go peacefully.
Source: Stray Rescue of St. Louis
Knowing how much Soul meant to Heart, they allowed her to say goodbye.
“She laid with her head on him, like she was hugging him goodbye. As he went peacefully, she was right there,” Lochmann said.
Witnessing Heart’s sorrow broke the hearts of everyone at the shelter. They knew they had to help her heal.
Source: Stray Rescue of St. Louis
They bathed her, comforted her, and showered her with love. Though she had lost her best friend, she would never have to feel alone again.
Deeply moved by Heart’s devotion, the shelter staff found a way to keep Soul with her forever.
Source: Stray Rescue of St. Louis
They attached a small pendant containing his ashes to her collar. A golden wing charm was added as a reminder that Soul would always be watching over her.
Though her time at the shelter was brief, she soon moved into foster care, where she was surrounded by love.
A New Beginning
On January 31, 2023, Stray Rescue of St. Louis announced that Heart had found her forever home.
Her new family immediately connected with her story, having recently lost their own beloved dog, Cheyenne.
Their remaining pup, Bo, understood Heart’s pain—he had also lost his best friend.
Source: Stray Rescue of St. Louis
Heart’s new parents knew she was meant to be with them. Together, they helped heal each other’s hearts.
Bo became Heart’s closest companion, and the two dogs quickly bonded. They adore playing together and love spending time with their family’s grandsons.
Now, Heart enjoys a life filled with love, zoomies, and snuggles. She will never forget Soul, and she still wears the pendant with his ashes, carrying his memory wherever she goes.
