There comes a time in life when we have to accept losing someone dear to us. Dealing with loss is a process and we all have our own ways of coping. It’s hardest when we lose a family member or a friend, but losing a pet can be difficult as well, especially if we spend a lot of time with them and share a strong bond of love and friendship.
A Georgia man wanted to do something special for his dog on his last vacation
Tom Antonino and his family love to spend time in Virginia Beach, VA. This vibrant coastal city is perfect for people who want to take long walks on the beach, enjoy unique local food and explore rich history dating back to the colonial period.
Tom and his family never visited Virginia Beach without taking Cocoa with them
Cocoa, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, would always accompany Tom and his family on their trips to Virginia Beach. Cocoa enjoys spending time in the dog park and watching the sunset at Rudee Inlet.
This year, however, Cocoa was unable to walk on her own but Tom wanted to make her last vacation as enjoyable as possible.
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Tom and his wife came up with a way to take Cocoa for her walks
Cocoa’s last vacation had to be a special one so Tom and his wife came up with the idea to build a mobile doggy bed to make it possible for her to enjoy walks on the beach.
“My wife and I – we came up with a way to, with a mechanics creeper and stuff like that, to take her for walks. We had rope and a bed and we’d bring her out,” Antonino said.
Thanks to the handicraft mobile bed, Cocoa could spend her last vacation doing the things she loves.
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Tom was walking Cocoa at the beach when a woman asked to take pictures of them
Carrie Copenhaver went out for a bike ride when she noticed Tom pushing Cocoa on her mobile bed. She asked Tom’s permission to take pictures of them and post them on her Facebook page.
“A couple of weeks ago Mike & I were riding our bikes on the boardwalk & came across this sweet soul walking his beloved golden,” she posted on Facebook. “She’s [16] & not so good with her legs so he pulls her around on this bed he made so she can enjoy the smells of the ocean. I had to stop & express my love for his extraordinary care … compassion, kindness,love. I need more people like this in my life.”
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Carrie’s post has gone viral on Facebook and attracted media attention
Tom didn’t even know that the story went viral on social media until his brother-in-law showed him.
“I found out from my brother-in-law. He said, ‘Is this you?’ and then other people asked, ‘Is this you?’ and I’m like yeah, that’s Cocoa. That’s Cocoa and I going for a walk,” he said with a laugh.
Cocoa died recently, surrounded by a loving family that will forever keep her in their memory.
“Cocoa had not walked since last August, but she still was living a meaningful, quality life with us. She brought us such joy and hopefully we did the same for her. We miss her and will treasure our memories of her forever. She will always be with us in our hearts,” Tom’s wife Laura told Carrie.
We hope that Cocoa’s story will help people cope with losing pets. Even though we must eventually part with our pets, nothing can take away the memories and the bond we shared.
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