More Than Just a Dog: Remembering the Best Friends Who Crossed the Rainbow Bridge

Hi fur-iends!

It’s Lizzy here again, CHO (Chief Happiness Officer) at Labs of Love.

Most of you know me as the four-legged face behind Labs of Love. I inspect snacks, supervise cuddle breaks, test walking routes, and occasionally make sure my humans never have a clean pair of trousers again.

But there’s something many of you probably don’t know… I wasn’t the only inspiration behind Labs of Love. There was another very special dog before me. Her name was Choky (pronounced as Sjokie).

Now, I know what some of my American fur-iends are thinking… “Choky? That’s an unusual name!” Well, in Dutch, it’s a cute reference to chocolate. 🍫

Sadly, I never got to meet her. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge about five years ago, before I was even born. She reached the incredible age of 17 years old, which is something my humans are still very proud of.

My mum Ellen and dad Geert-Jan loved her with all their hearts. And if I’m being honest… I don’t think they have ever stopped missing her.

When Choky passed away, they were heartbroken. My mum says that during the months afterwards, simply seeing another dog lying under a café table could make her burst into tears.

Fortunately (and I do say fortunately), I arrived about six months later. These days she usually doesn’t cry anymore when she sees another dog. Mostly because she’s busy preventing me from greeting every stranger I come across and convincing me that not every muddy puddle deserves a full-body dive. I’m excellent at providing emotional distraction.

But missing Choky? That never really disappeared.

Love doesn’t end when a life does

Something else I’ve noticed… many of your humans write to us. Sometimes they order a shirt because they absolutely adore their dog. But quite often, they tell us something much more personal.

Their best friend has passed away. They miss the sound of paws on the floor. The empty dog bed feels too empty. The house is quieter than it has ever been. They order a shirt because it helps them keep their best friend close.

Every single one of those messages touches my humans deeply. Because they know exactly what that feels like.

And that’s why I wanted to dedicate this blog to all the wonderful dogs who are no longer physically beside their families, but who still leave paw prints everywhere that matters. Especially in their humans’ hearts.

I did some research

Since I’m the Chief Happiness Officer, I usually prefer writing about adventures, snacks and road trips. But sometimes happiness also means making room for sadness.

So I sniffed around and did a little research on advice that grief experts often give to people who have lost a beloved pet. Here are a few things that may help your humans:

❤️ Give yourself permission to grieve

Some people don’t understand how painful it is to lose a dog. “We’re just dogs,” they might say. Well… we’re also alarm clocks. Walking buddies. Secret keepers. Professional face lickers. Family members.

It’s completely normal for grief after losing a pet to be just as intense as grieving any loved one. There isn’t a right or wrong timeline. Some people need weeks. Others need months or years. Both are okay.

🐾 Talk about them

One of the best ways to keep us alive is simply by telling our stories. Talk about the funny things we did. The naughty things. The adventures. The habits that made everyone laugh.

Every time my humans tell a Choky story, she becomes part of the conversation again. Sometimes there are tears. Sometimes there is laughter. Usually both.

📸 Create something that keeps the memories close

Some humans make photo albums. Others frame a favourite picture. There is a photo of Choky in our living room and our kitchen, so she is always with us. Some plant a tree. Others wear a T-shirt that reminds them of their best friend.

There isn’t one perfect way to remember us. The important thing is finding something that makes you smile when you think of us.

🤍 Don’t feel guilty if another dog enters your life

This one is important. Getting another dog doesn’t replace the one your humans lost. I certainly didn’t replace Choky. Nobody ever could.

Your heart simply grows. You don’t love the new dog instead of the old one. You love them differently. There’s room for both.

🐶 Take care of yourself, too

When we’re gone, your daily routine changes overnight. The walks stop. The feeding times disappear. The quiet can feel overwhelming.

Try to keep moving. Go outside. Talk to family or friends who understand. And if the grief feels too heavy, don’t hesitate to seek support. Missing someone so deeply is a reflection of how deeply you loved them.

One last thing…

If your human’s best friend has crossed the Rainbow Bridge, I hope this blog gives them a little comfort today.

I know my humans still miss Choky every single day. But I also know that after all these years, when they think of her, they’re increasingly smiling before they start crying. I think that’s beautiful. Because love doesn’t disappear. It just changes shape.

Now… I promise my next blog will be much happier! I’ve already got a few ideas involving muddy paws, tasty snacks, ridiculous adventures, and at least one story where I definitely wasn’t responsible for whatever happened. (Okay… maybe slightly responsible.)

Until next time… Stay Pawsitive!

Love,
Lizzy 🐾
Chief Happiness Officer
Labs of Love