Dog Refuses To Sleep In The Space Where His Friend Once Slept

It's never easy to lose a best friend — whether you're a human or a dog.

For Harry the Shih Tzu, the healing process is taking a bit longer than his owner Caitlin Wynne expected. In fact, he’s still grieving for his best friend, George, a year after the pup’s passing.

From the moment they met, the two dogs seemed to complete each other: “We got Harry when George was 7 because it seemed like he needed a friend,” Wynne told The Dodo. “They got on really well. Harry was always more playful and energetic than George, but they’d still play and would always sleep next to each other.”

Harry has always been a bit shy, and spending time with George gave him the confidence he needed. “Harry couldn’t stand being in a room without him and was very reliant on him,” Wynne said. “Harry was very timid when we got him and is still fairly timid now.”

The two dogs slept together every night, sharing a single dog bed until, at the age of 15, George got sick. It was heartbreaking for Wynne to watch Harry try to care for his ailing friend.

“They used to share the bed, but when George became ill, Harry slept next to the bed to give him space,” Wynne said. “I slept on the sofa the night before we had George put to sleep to keep him company and Harry was pacing around the room crying. [He] wouldn’t sleep all night, as if he knew something was wrong.”

When George was put to sleep the next day, his best friend went with him to the vet and refused to leave his side. Harry was the last thing George saw before closing his eyes. 

Now, most nights, Harry returns to the bed they once shared. Only, when he lies down, he always leaves a space for his friend. “He sleeps on the floor to the side of the bed now quite often,” Wynne said, “but I didn’t realize why until I was looking through photos of them both from a year ago.”

Wynne recently posted the heartbreaking photos on Twitter, where they struck a chord with other pet owners.

Wynne and her family are doing their best to help the little dog cope with his grief. And, with enough cuddles, pets and treats, they are confident that one day soon he will heal.

Of course, that will never change how lucky the dogs were to find each other: “Almost a year on and he clearly still misses George,” Wynne said.