Sandara Park: When My Dog Died,

Hi there 👋

About 3 years ago my Miniature Pinscher, Snoop, passed away.

While there's never a good time for things like this to happen, it was especially hard for multiple reasons:

❤️️ ️I just had heart surgery the day before

🎄 Christmas was in a few days,

🤰Kelly was pregnant with Capri

So, with all of this️ stress I didn't talk about Snoop's passing on social media, but I'm ready now!

Snoop Lived 5 Years With Kidney Failure

We did everything we could to keep him as healthy as possible, which for us meant healthy homemade food, and it worked!

He lived to be 12 years old and had kidney failure for the last 5 years of his life.

We Donated Snoop's Sweaters

After Snoop passed we donated his entire collection of sweaters to Camp Golden Years, a rescue that focuses on senior dogs.

It was hard letting go of those items since it was the last physical presence we had of him but it made us feel better knowing that shelter dogs would benefit and his legacy would live on.

Recently one of Camp Golden Year's longtime residents named Milhouse, passed away.

He was also a min pin and wore one of Snoop's Christmas sweaters on a regular basis, so we had a special connection to Millhouse.

It Was Like Reliving Snoop's Passing

It definitely made me sad all over again because it was like reliving Snoop's passing.

But then I realized how many times I've seen dogs from Camp Golden Years wearing Snoop's sweaters on social media and each time it brings a huge smile to my face. 😀

It also warms my heart knowing these senior dogs are being well cared for while they await their forever home.

We fostered a senior dog that was abandoned simply because she was old. I made a video about Chiquita.

Watch The Video

How To Best Honor Your Dog's Memory

If your dog doesn't have a closet full of sweaters like Snoop did, you could choose to give a monetary donation in their honor.

It doesn't have to be a large amount, even covering an adoption fee would be so helpful.

Or better yet, when you're ready, choose to adopt your next pup, knowing that you're saving a life by doing so. Bonus points if you adopt a senior dog. Here's 8 rescue groups that focus on seniors.

Have you had to deal with the death of a beloved pup or pet? In what ways did you honor them? I'd love to know what helped you through this difficult time so that together we can be a better resource for our community. Just hit that reply button and let me know.

Rocky is a pet rescue advocate, pet chef and Emmy-nominated TV host.

His content spreads awareness about pet adoption, fostering and volunteering with the goal of inspiring his audience to help animals in their local community.

He's also dog dad to a rescue boxer named Flip, a senior terrier mix named Zoey, and Kobe, a blind cane corso.

Learn more about Rocky