“He waited by the door for a friend who’d never come again”: When a grieving dog refused to move, a husky who never cuddled opened her heart and shared her kennel

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Jul 25, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

Often on this page, we cover stories of hoomans helping doggos. The kind of stories that remind us that our bond to canine kind is unbreakable and that trust and love can help us and our doggo buddies overcome any obstacle in our paths. But today we are blessed with a story that is heartwarming on a whole other level as the compassion and empathy that we are used to seeing in ourselves, is taken on by the most unlikely pair of four pawed pals.

This is the story of a doggo who would not give up on his best friend, it is the story of how even an old dog can learn some surprising new tricks, and most of all this is the story that proves doggos have as much if not more emotional capacity than we do. So the next time you think that your pupper might not know exactly what you are feeling, we recommend you think again, because they know and they are there for you.
 

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  • 01
    So I (31f) used to work at this doggy daycare/boarding center. The one I worked at separated the bigs and littles usually but
    via Elvislilly
  • 02
    sometimes exceptions are made (bonded pair, old old big dog in littles etc) So for this story you need to know: Iggy (5 year old mini schnauzer/chihuahua
    via Elvislilly
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    mix), Max (14 year old Weimaraner) a bonded pair, literally inseparable, very sweet boys. And Misty a 10 year old female husky with an attitude problem, she
    via Elvislilly
  • 04
    Cheezburger Image 10533981184
    via Adrienn via Adobe Stock

    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 05
    didn't like any other dog, she was tolerant but not thrilled with the other dogs getting in her space. They didn't have any contact despite being in group together a couple of times.
    via Elvislilly
  • 06
    Starts sad y'all. After a year of Iggy and Max coming in together every other day for daycare, it happened, I came in and there was only Iggy...no Max. It was
    via Elvislilly

  • Oh goodness, this really does start sad, but at least it is only the beginning which is sad and there will be a happy ending for Iggy. But there is no denying that it must have been harrowing to have lost the other half of his bonded pair.

  • 07
    sad but expected cause he was so old, poor buddy was a good boy though. Iggy, though, he hit me hard. He was
    via Elvislilly
  • 08
    sitting at the gate wagging his tail and looking behind me for his best friend, when he didn't see him he just sat back down and waited patiently. But Max wasn't
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  • 09
    coming. So I tried to distract him but he wouldn't leave his spot. Figuring he needed some time and if I kept pushing he'd just get frustrated I decided to go into the
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  • 10
    outdoor yard to say hi to the other dogs in that day. I was walking around the yard for a while, like an hour but every time I'd check lggy would be in the same spot just waiting. Every time
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  • 11
    someone opened the door his tail would wag and he stand up and look behind the person or dog coming in, and every time he wouldn't see him his tail would stop wagging and he'd sit back down to wait. I went to sit and see
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  • Noooo, why did this story not start with a disclaimer that you need a jumbo pack of tissues handy just to handle the emotional rollercoaster of a story that is waiting for us. Goodness, poor Iggy, how much hope do you have to hold in your heart to be able to continuously go through the motions of hoping to see your best friend again.

  • 12
    if he'd come over like usual but that was a no go. I was about to call Iggy's owners and tell them to come get him cause he's so sad when it happened...
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  • 13
    Here's the wholesome part: Right as I was giving up on distracting lggy. Misty, the dog that didn't like anyone, got up from her throne and walked over to him. I watched while this
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  • 14
    grumpy old dog sat next to this grieving confused pup. Just sat there, so he wasn't alone. I thought I was overreacting but then when we were bringing
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  • 15
    dogs in for nap time, Iggy followed Misty....right into her kennel. And she let him. They hopped up on her bed and curled up together. They spent the rest of the day glued to each others sides.
    via Elvislilly
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    Cheezburger Image 10533980928
    via somchairakin via Adobe Stock

    Disclaimer: This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 17
    Yes I asked both sets of owners if it was okay for them to hang in there (not really a choice though...Iggy wasn't moving for nobody) they said yes obviously, there may have been tears.
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  • 18
    Coffeeffex This is the saddest sweetest story I've read in awhile. Thank you
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  • 19
    fine-frog name: breed This is so sweet, oh my goodness. Related commentary on bonded pairs/
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  • 20
    dh We had one of our two girls, Lindsay, eu at home so that Kaylee could be ed present and would understand what had happened. Best
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  • 21
    decision we ever made, and I highly recommend at- home euthanasia, especially when it comes to a bonded pair. Kaylee isn't just
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  • 22
    sitting at the door waiting for her sister, and I honestly don't think my heart could handle it if that were the case.
    via Elvislilly

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refuse door wait dogs move heartwarming again husky never friends kennel reddit story come grief cuddling dog story
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