Pet parents fall in love with their pups in an instant. The days and years spent together only strengthen this bond, making the relationship unbreakable. However, when time passes, so does our youth. Just like humans, dogs age, and their health naturally deteriorates. It affects us greatly, but we wouldn’t trade a thing. Our lives together are irreplaceable! One dog dad, Dennis Gerard, was profoundly affected one day when he returned from work to find his senior dog, Piper, behaving oddly. Dennis and Piper had been together since Piper was two years old, sharing countless joyful moments over the years.
However, after celebrating Piper’s 17th birthday, noticeable changes set in. Piper had become deaf and blind and was suffering from dementia. While these changes are not uncommon for a dog of Piper’s age, they were still hard for Dennis to accept, especially when he witnessed something particularly distressing. When Dennis initially returned home that day, everything seemed normal as Piper greeted him at the door with kisses and joyful dancing, a typical welcome-home ritual.
But what happened next deeply saddened Dennis. “A half-hour later, I was making a sandwich and watched him wander into the foyer and position himself for me to come through the door again. He was having a bad day and he forgot that I’d just come home. He was waiting for me again, it was so sad,” Dennis shared in an interview with Newsweek.
Despite the sadness of the situation, Dennis’s feelings were complex, tinged with joy. “This is one of those things that’s sad and cute at the same time, I love it and I hate it. I am his whole world, and it does bring me great joy seeing how much he loves me,” Dennis reflected.
To share the beauty of life with a senior dog, Dennis began posting videos of Piper on social networks long ago. His TikTok account, @dennis.gerard, drew significant attention and enthusiastic responses from viewers. “People can really connect emotionally with posts like this,” said Dennis. “I’ve had thousands of comments, and every one of them is positive and uplifting; people share similar experiences with their dogs, both past and present.” The video that inspired this story was particularly impactful, garnering numerous views and diverse reactions.
“Why does any of this have to happen to our babies ,” one user lamented.
“Awwww Piper!!! You are soooooo loved!!!” another commented.
A third person added: “We are the keepers of their souls until it’s time to cross the rainbow bridge…. ❤️”
These sentiments capture the essence of the bond between Dennis and Piper perfectly. To experience the bond Gerard and Piper share, and witness the event the story is based on, check out the TikTok video below.
