How do you say goodbye to your childhood best friend? It was those memories you can never forget, and not a number of years could ever erase them.
In the case of Alden Cuevas and her brother, Jackson as well — high school students in Texas— their last interaction with Shiloh was watching him be driven away by their stepdad.
That is until events surprising to her unfolded seven years later.
Shiloh’s Journey
But one day, while scrolling through social media, Alden saw a mugshot of her stepdad. Another massive shock came when an online advertisement looking for homes, featured Shiloh.
Alden, who had convinced herself her childhood friend was gone for good, could not believe Jake was still alive. She immediately contacted whoever had found Shiloh asking them to please tell her his story, but the tale that unfolded was even more heart-wrenching than she imagined.
@aldentattoos Unfortunately, we are not even sure what to do. Chemotherapy is expensive and even more so than that it would be extremely hard on her 12 year old body. We have a consultation Wednesday to find out more options to get more time 💔 thank each and every one of you for the kind words. Shiloh is so happy to be saved and you can tell. Im so grateful for this time with her too. To follow along daily, my IG is @Aldentattoos Update yall soon Alden♥️#fyp #animalsoftiktok #fypage #fypシ゚viral #animalrescue #animalrescuer #petsoftiktok #animallover #foryou #animalawareness #animalcruelty #addictionrecovery #dallas #pets #dogs #dogsoftiktok #dogsofttiktok #dog #mastiff #mastiffsoftiktok #animals #petstory #rescuestory @weratedogs @Just Trish ♬ Very Sad – Enchan
Shiloh was abandoned in a warehouse, and had leaded an extremely difficult life. He only weighed 16 pounds, was covered in ticks and fleas, had arthritis.
Alden and her family then made the seven-hour trip to collect him without a moment’s hesitation. On the way tensioned with a kind of excitement as they almost held hands in expectation, hope for their reunion.
A Heartfelt Reunion
Shiloh walked right up to an equally emotional Alden in a moving TikTok video that captured their reunion long overdue. Upon her return tears of joy certainly ran rampant as the reunion was that of a homecoming for Shiloh.
“Dog memories are crazy. Seems after 7 years she could never know who we were. “LBTE: We were all kids…” wrote Alden in a TikTok caption.
It was an emotional moment where they saw each other for the first time but not as recognizable faces, a bond long been created.
Regardless of the separation for 17 months, Shiloh still has a strong connection to his family because pets have an unbreakable bond with humans.
The following day, Alden brought the dogs to a vet due to Shiloh being lethargic and panting heavily. But what was supposed to be a happy meeting soon ended in tragedy.
Facing the Unthinkable
Alden later posted an update video, revealing that Shiloh had large cancerous tumors from head to toe. Especially because, while they did catch the cancer early…they found 3 softball size mass tumors in her lungs pressing on her heart.
Now I know why she has been panting even in the 68 degree house. Alden said on TikTok, “We figured it was heartworms from her 15-year stay outside.
The outlook was bleak — a few more months for Shiloh. Chemotherapy in an animal his age would be very hard on him and may not add much time to his life. They then decided to make Shiloh’s last days as joyful as they could, even in the midst of their heartbreak.
Cherishing Each Moment
Now, Shiloh is adapting to life back at home again where he will be pampered with love and attention. His family keeps him as comfortable and contented he can be, providing a warm bed for sleeping and special boots to help his arthritic joints.
The adorable white dog could not be happier with showering love and being smothered in the them that missed him so much all those years.
It is in all of these tiny acts of caring that it becomes clear the family has chosen to dedicate their time celebrating Shiloh’s last days with them. They fawn over him and make memories they will cherish forever.
With each moment we spend lounging about or taking walks through the garden, you can practically feel the love.
What is left now for him, is just those who love hin the most. Shiloh will go into the next, life to meet his maker far happier than he otherwise would have because when it is time for him to die in peace — set aside from this by all that awful pain — it was surrounded by loved and comfortable.
In this case, that bond is between us humans and our fur families: a tale whose topic pulls deeply at the heartstrings of pet owners who would move oceans for their beloved companions.
Love is in a word we use when only the memory of someone can console you and bring peace despite being certain that grooming has destroyed him forever.
