This April, I said goodbye to my soul dog, Finn. At just seven years old, he passed away unexpectedly from heart failure, an unbearable loss that cracked my world wide open. As so many people can relate about their own animals, Finn wasn’t just a pet. He was a selfless and constant companion, a member of our family, a teacher, and a gentle, grounding presence who taught me more about life and love than I ever imagined possible.
From the moment my husband and I brought him home, I knew Finn was different. He had a way of communicating with me and had a constant patience and I knew he’d been sent to me for a purpose. Finn taught me how to slow down, to be present, to love without condition and to care deeply and selflessly. Losing him was one of the most painful experiences I’ve faced, but what I couldn’t have anticipated was the beauty that could grow from deep grief.
Two months after Finn’s passing our closest friends organized a community benefit in honor of Finn’s life. The event, Fetch It Forward at Cori and Sage, gathered families, friends, and pups from all over Austin to celebrate the love we share for our animals and to support causes close to our hearts - Central Texas Dachshund Rescue, Final Frontier Rescue Project, and Emancipet. These organizations work tirelessly to give animals the love and care they deserve, spending their time placing dogs in loving foster care, working to get rescues into forever homes, and providing low-cost, high-quality vet care for animals.
Fetch It Forward was a magical day of love, remembrance and support. It was amazing and inspiring to visit with those involved in local rescues and educate myself on new ways to support animal rescue efforts in my community. Dogs wagged their tails beside their owners, children snuggled puppies, and families shared stories of their own beloved pets and their experiences of loss. As I stood among the crowd, I realized that even in the depths of grief, love has a way of multiplying. My heart was broken, but it was also fuller than it had ever been. It’s easy to feel alone in pain, but that day reminded me that we’re surrounded by so much good, by people who show up, by animals who change our lives, and by an Austin community that knows how deeply our pets matter. I learned that when we honor our grief, we also make space for joy, connection, and healing.
Finn may no longer be physically with us, but his spirit and his legacy is alive in every life touched by that day. In every rescue supported, in every pup snuggled a little tighter, in every story shared around the love we have for our animals. And now, even in his absence, he’s still teaching me that love doesn’t end when life does. It carries on in memories, in cherished moments, in acts of service and in the hearts of others. Thank you, Finny boy.
Find more information about how to support these local rescues visit ctdr.org, finalfrontierrescueproject.org, and emancipet.org.