A Bond That Couldn’t Be Broken
Heart and Soul shared an unbreakable bond. After being abandoned by their family, the two pups found themselves alone on the side of the highway. With no one to care for them, they leaned on each other for warmth and comfort. Their love for each other kept them safe in a world that had turned its back on them.
When Soul was hurt in an accident, Heart refused to leave his side, even when help arrived.
“She was barking at people and being protective,” said Donna Lochmann, chief lifesaving officer for Stray Rescue of St. Louis. “She wasn’t being aggressive, but she was letting people know that her friend was hurt, and she wasn’t going anywhere.”
Lochmann, on her way to the shelter, saw the accident and immediately sprang into action.
“I got Heart on a leash, put her in the front seat, and secured her,” Lochmann recalled.
With Soul gently placed in a blanket, the rescuer carefully loaded him into the back of her Jeep.
Even from the front seat, Heart’s eyes never left Soul.
Once they arrived at the shelter, Heart stayed vigilant, keeping a watchful eye on her friend.
“She watched and kept an eye on the vet,” Lochmann shared.
The X-rays revealed that Soul’s injuries were more severe than they had anticipated, and sadly, there was nothing more that could be done to save him.
Heart was brought back to the room with Soul to share their final moments together.
“She laid with her head on him, like she was hugging him goodbye,” Lochmann said. “As he went peacefully, she was right there.”
A Loving Farewell
Heart stayed beside Soul until the very end. Her sadness was shared by all those who witnessed the bond between the two.
“It was breaking all of our hearts,” Lochmann said.
After their separation, the staff knew Heart would need extra care to cope with her grief. She was bathed and given a quiet room to rest in while the team began planning a way to honor her deep connection with Soul.
“We knew we wanted him to be with her,” Lochmann explained. “We got a charm that could hold ashes and attached it to her collar.”
The charm came with a small golden wing, symbolizing Soul’s continued presence in Heart’s life.
“He’s with her all the time now,” Lochmann said.
Heart’s New Beginning
After a few days at the shelter, Heart was placed in a foster home. Although her shelter friends miss her, they’re relieved to know she’s receiving the love and care she deserves.
“She’s doing well and enjoying being with the people in her foster home,” Lochmann shared. “She’s getting plenty of love.”
Heart is still looking for her forever home, but wherever she goes, Stray Rescue of St. Louis will ensure that Soul’s presence will always be with her.
“The little charm holds a few ashes,” Lochmann said. “We’ll make sure the rest of his ashes go with her as well.”
Soul’s pawprint will also be sent to Heart’s forever home, where he will always be remembered. Though the two had to say goodbye, their bond will remain, a love that endures beyond time.