Dog owner shares heartbreaking reason she fills her pet’s bowl with food months after his death

Losing a pet can be a devastating time for owners. The sudden shift in daily routine and their absence can feel overwhelming. It is understandable when some families are not ready to let go of their daily routines with the pet to soothe their heartache. A pet owner, who goes by @freyamje on TikTok, did something similar soon after her 16-year-old dog passed away to help cope with the loss in her household. While she was still mourning her late pet, she was more concerned for his sibling. So, she set out a food bowl even for her late dog for a heartbreaking reason. 

In a viral clip shared, the pet owner revealed that she still feeds her “dead dog” months after his passing. She acknowledged how bizarre it may seem to some people, but what his sister did soon after his bowl was filled with food is truly a sibling goal. “His little sister used to take a lot of pleasure out of finishing off his breakfast and dinner,” the owner revealed. When her senior dog passed away, the creator was unsure whether to continue feeding him or not. “We decided, ‘Yeah, why not.’ Something that she takes great comfort in. So we just sort of put the ends of his dinner in the bowl because he used to leave them for her anyway,” she said. 

But that’s not all. The pet sibling took joy in a mischievous antic that the owners could not afford to lose, even after her brother’s passing. The owner shared, “Her favorite part of the day is when she finishes her breakfast and runs over to her brother’s bowl.” The post garnered 219,000 views and 23,000 likes. The heartwarming gesture of the sibling pooch left many emotional in the comments. “Honestly, if it keeps her happy, why change it? You’re not wasting food, she’s not getting anything extra…She’s happy and that’s all that matters,” penned @emmalemmasema and @garliiccc noted, “Dogs thrive off of routine. So, I bet this gives her some comfort.” “This is one of the most beautiful acts of love I have ever seen,” wrote @julie_donegal. 

A fellow pet owner (@gothiclilypad) shared a similar experience. “The other day, my dog ate my dinner off the side and seemed shocked how I knew it was her when my boys had been gone a year,” the comment read. According to the American Kennel Club, dogs who may be grieving the loss of a pet sibling or buddy may lose their spark, appear less active, enthusiastic, or even attentive. Dr. Mary Burch, a certified applied animal behaviorist with over two decades of expertise, explained that this may happen only when the two pets are close. “As a matter of fact, in a case where the dogs just coexisted and really did not interact much, if the owner began lavishing attention and activities on the remaining dog, the dog might actually seem happier,” she said. 

You can follow @freyamje on TikTok for more videos.