A Bond That Couldn’t Be Broken
Heart and Soul shared a connection deeper than words. After their family left them near a busy highway, the two pups relied entirely on one another. With no one else around, they comforted each other and stayed close, forming a powerful and loyal friendship.
One tragic day, Soul was struck by a vehicle. Even when rescuers came to help, Heart refused to leave his side.
“She was barking and staying close to him,” said Donna Lochmann, chief lifesaving officer for Stray Rescue of St. Louis. “Not out of aggression, but because she was trying to protect her friend.”
Lochmann spotted the heartbreaking scene while driving to work. She stopped immediately to step in.
“I gently placed Heart on a leash, put her in the front seat, and made sure she was safe,” she said.
Soul was carefully wrapped in a soft blanket and loaded into the back of the vehicle.
Even while secured in front, Heart kept her eyes on Soul every second of the ride.
Once they arrived at the shelter, Heart continued to stay alert, watching over Soul as the medical team examined him.
“She kept looking at the vet, just quietly observing,” Lochmann said.
X-rays confirmed their worst fears. Soul’s injuries were extensive, and there was nothing more they could do to save him.
Staff brought Heart back into the room so she could be with Soul in his final moments.
“She rested her head on him as if she were giving him one last hug,” Lochmann said. “She stayed beside him until the very end.”
A Loving Farewell
Heart remained close to Soul through his final breath. The entire team was deeply moved by the strength of their connection.
“Our hearts were breaking,” Lochmann shared.
Afterwards, they gave Heart a bath and a quiet room where she could rest. While her body healed, the team planned a way to keep Soul close to her always.
“We wanted her to carry a piece of him with her,” said Lochmann. “So we got a tiny charm that holds ashes and clipped it to her collar.”
Attached to the charm was a golden wing, meant to symbolize that Soul would always be nearby.
“He’s with her wherever she goes,” Lochmann said softly.
Heart’s New Beginning
Soon after, Heart moved into a foster home. Her caretakers at the shelter missed her deeply but were happy to know she was now surrounded by comfort and affection.
“She’s adjusting well and enjoying the company of her foster family,” Lochmann said. “She’s getting all the love she needs.”
Heart is still waiting to find her forever family. When the time comes, Stray Rescue of St. Louis will make sure that Soul’s memory goes with her.
“We only placed a portion of his ashes in the charm,” said Lochmann. “The rest will be sent with her once she’s adopted.”
Along with his ashes, Soul’s pawprint will also be included. No matter where life takes her, Heart will carry the love and memory of her soulmate forever.