Their younger pup's sudden death left their senior dog in ‘tears’ — but nothing prepared the couple for the heartbreak that followed just hours later

Some moments begin quietly and still manage to reshape an entire family, and that was true for Holli Johnson and her two inseparable dogs. She shared a TikTok video on April 13, 2025, that opened the door to a deeply personal story, as the sudden loss of their younger dog left their older companion visibly shaken, and nothing prepared them for the heartbreak that came only hours later. Kona, 15, and Willow, 12, had spent their whole lives side by side, traveling with their family from Arizona to California. Their steady bond shaped their days and made the coming loss even harder to bear.

As reported by Newsweek, Willow, a black-and-white Shih Tzu mix, had shown no signs of illness before the morning everything changed. Johnson said the family woke up to find Willow behaving oddly, which sent them rushing to an emergency veterinarian. She explained that the situation had changed quickly and that the trip to the clinic had become urgent as Willow’s condition worsened. "She died in my arms as I was carrying her in,” Johnson shared with the outlet. Later, they learned she had an undiagnosed heart condition. Kona rode with the family that morning, and Johnson decided he needed to see Willow afterward to recognize that his companion was gone.

What followed left the family shaken. “We let him see her,” Johnson said. “He was so upset he had actual tears in his eyes.” The viral TikTok clip shared by the handle @iheartshihtzus showed Kona with a visibly sad expression and teary eyes. Only a few hours later, Kona began pacing and panting. He had long dealt with age-related heart failure, but the timing struck Johnson deeply. That night, Kona also died. “I truly believe he didn’t want to live without her,” she said. She admitted she had always expected Willow to struggle after Kona passed, not the other way around. “We had both of them since they were babies,” she said. “Losing them on the same day was devastating.” The pair was buried together at the family’s cottage overlooking a lake, a spot they had always loved.

A memorial stone now marks their grave, engraved with the words “Two souls, one journey.” “I believe with all my heart that is true,” Johnson said. Many internet users also dropped heartfelt messages in the comment section of the post. @squirreldisco expressed, "This is both sad and beautiful, to think they crossed the rainbow bridge together." @enemachugcontest mentioned, "I'm so sorry. That's the only bad thing about pets." @scarlet_the_menace shared, "I lost 2 dogs, 2 months apart in 2021. It broke me. The grief is overwhelming. We did adopt a puppy, she’s 2, and I know they chose her for me." 

The silence in the house after losing both dogs felt heavy, and one night she found herself speaking out loud to Kona, saying, “If we’re meant to have another dog, Kona will have to send it to us.” The next day, she came across a post from Rebel Dogs Detroit about a Shih Tzu found as a stray. The family chose to foster him and soon realized he belonged with them. They named him Buddy. “He is our little buddy and came into our lives at the perfect time,” Johnson said.

For more endearing dog content, follow @iheartshihtzus on their TikTok account.