At the end of the day, there's nobody I'd rather come home to than my canine companion.
And whether he's making me laugh or cry, my pup inspires me to keep up on my animal news each day — like this story of an adorable one-eyed cat who learned to surf.
And when I discovered this heartwarming story of how one man memorialized his favorite pup, I couldn't help but tear up a little bit.
On the two-year anniversary of his pup's passing, Instagram user imso (whose real name is Chris) decided to commemorate the life of his beloved dog "Everything" by sending strangers 100 tennis balls, in the hopes that they'd use the balls as an opportunity to spend more playtime with their own pups.
It was beyond difficult for Chris to lose his very best friend, a Rottweiler mix. But what happened next? His Instagram message of kindness and hope truly turned into a worldwide phenomenon.
What do you think of the unique way that Chris honored Everything? Let us know in the comments!
[H/T: Mashable]
Chris's Instagram post reads:
"On Jan 23 I'll mark 2 years without my best friend. I purchased 100 tennis balls last week. I plan on sending them to anyone who wants one."
"I hope that all the people who get a ball from me will use it to spend some quality time with their best friend. If you would like a ball please email me your name and address and I will send you one."
"Edit: wow, I am blown away by the requests for tennis balls. Going to have to buy some more now. Thank you to everyone who requested a ball. I'll do my best to make sure everybody gets one. Thank you all."
Chris shares the impetus behind this powerful message with Mashable, "I wanted to share her memory but in a positive way — to encourage other people to bond with their dogs. This was the best way I could think to do that. No matter what day, in my head there is always the equation of how many days I have been without her."
"I had Everything for 12 years," Chris continues. "Our main hobby together was walking on the beaches between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay. She slept in the bed with me in spite of my ex-girlfriend's wishes that she didn't."
Chris hopes that the love he shared with his dog will inspire other dog owners to give their own pup an extra hug (and a game of fetch).
What do you think of Chris's idea to memorialize his amazing pet? Let us know in the comments.
Please SHARE this touching story with fellow dog-lovers!
Thumbnail Sources: Flickr, Tennis Fixation
